Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Ceisteanna (543)

Martin Browne

Ceist:

543. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if resource centres that are not in receipt of core funding will have their funding streams improved from the phased roll-out of projects similar in approach to community development plans as outlined in the programme for Government; and if the introduction of a five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector as outlined in the programme for Government will also result in improved funding streams for resource centres not in receipt of core funding. [14344/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In August 2019, the Department launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. This Strategy sets a general direction of travel for Government policy in relation to community development, local development and the community and voluntary sector and will be implemented in partnership with sectorial stakeholders over the next five years and beyond.

The sector participated in comprehensive consultation with my Department to support the strategy development process and the issues of core funding arose as part of those consultations. The strategy recognises the impact of previous policy and resource decisions on the sector and seeks to address these through its 11 high-level objectives and associated actions. The strategy aims to empower communities, their representative organisations, and the community and voluntary sector, to inform and shape responses to their needs into the future.

This is an ambitious strategy and will take time to implement. While implementation of all of the actions will begin during the strategy period, there are some that will continue to be progressed and built upon beyond the life of the current strategy, particularly those that address the development of a sustainable funding model. These actions are no less a priority because they will take longer to implement fully. On the contrary, I recognise that these actions are crucial to a sustainable community and voluntary sector and will underpin support for the sector for many years to come. The disruption brought by COVID19 has inevitably delayed some implementation work this year, however, my Department is committed to the full implementation of the Strategy and I look forward to working closely with the sector to support its implementation.

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, LCDCs, Local Development Companies, Community and Voluntary organisations and representatives of the sector to determine how we can all support communities across the country during the recovery process and beyond.

Community facilities can access funding from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies. Supports provided by my Department help people to participate in the development of their communities and also to improve community facilities.

These supports include the Community Services Programme (CSP), the Community Enhancement Programme the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the LEADER Programme. Details regarding all these schemes can be found on my Departments website at https://www.gov.ie/ en/organisation-information/216837-the-rural-development-and-regional-affairs-division/

Barr
Roinn