My Department is committed to a holistic approach to the regeneration of large social housing estates, and, in addition to bricks and mortar considerations includes social interventions that contribute significantly to addressing disadvantage and building sustainable communities. To that end, my Department supports a broad range of social interventions, including community warden schemes, under the Sustainable Communities Fund and as part of the National Regeneration Programme.
Both Sligo Borough Council and Cork City Council have received funding over the past four years for community warden posts under these two funding streams, two in Sligo and five in Cork City. The sustainable communities fund is operated on the basis of an annual call for proposals. In terms of regeneration funding, which currently supports two warden posts in Cranmore, Sligo and a further two posts in Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill, Cork City, funding is being provided for these posts as part of the overall regeneration programme. The future funding of such posts will be considered in the context of the comprehensive regeneration masterplans which are being developed by both Councils at present.
