Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1052. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on providing additional funding for community organisations to provide young persons with resources and opportunities for socially distanced outdoor activities during the summer months in the context of an absence of usual summer camps. [9360/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is providing additional vital supports and funding for community organisations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is supporting the following initiatives which could provide opportunities to deliver social distanced outdoor activities to benefit, young people and individuals of all ages:
The 2020 CLÁR programme was launched on 25 May 2020 and includes a new Community Recreation Areas measure in response to the impact of COVID-19 on communities across Ireland. This Measure will support a variety of capital interventions provided that they contribute to the enhancement of existing, and/or the development of new, accessible Community Recreation areas where people can socialise outdoors in safe community spaces. This measure will include support for items such as picnic benches/tables, outdoor covered seating or BBQ areas, Car and bike parking, bandstand/stage areas, etc.
Community groups may apply through their Local Authority and in turn the Local Authority will select the projects to be submitted to the Department. More information on the CLÁR programme is available on the Gov.ie website. The closing date for applications is 28 August 2020.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched on 27 May 2020 with an Accelerated Measure to Respond to COVID-19, focusing on immediate interventions that can be delivered in the short-term to assist towns and villages to adapt to COVID-19. It will be administered by Local Authorities who will have the autonomy to identify and develop their own solutions in consultation with local business interests, Town Teams, and community groups as appropriate. The projects funded can be delivered directly by the Local Authority or by a community/business organisation. It is expected that the projects will involve expenditure on supplies and services of a capital nature and can include items such as capital expenditure associated with festivals or smaller-scale events which can be enjoyed by all age groups in the community later in the year when public health guidelines allow.
Funding may also be available through the existing LEADER Programme for the type of project activity referred to by the Deputy. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.
The decision to approve a project, or otherwise, is a matter for the Local Action Group (LAG) which administers the programme in each LEADER area. Interested applicants should, in the first instance, contact the relevant LAG through its Implementing Partners to discuss the funding that may be available.
The list of Local Action Groups, their Implementing Partners and their contact details is available on the National Rural Network website at the following link: https://www.nationalruralnetwork.ie/leader/local-action-groups/.
While recognising that the social recovery of Ireland post COVID-19 will require a whole of Government approach, my Department will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including Local Authorities and Local Development Companies, to determine how best this can be achieved.
