Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2020
38. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the schemes under her Department that can allocate funding to community organisations, including clubs (details supplied) to develop ancillary services such as car parking; and her plans to provide additional schemes and funding in this regard. [24317/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupport for the works outlined by the Deputy could potentially be considered for funding, subject to eligibility criteria being met, under the following schemes funded by my Department:
- Under the LEADER (2014-2020) Programme. All funding decisions regarding projects are entirely a matter for the Local Action Groups (LAGs), which administer the programme in each LEADER sub-regional area. 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. Interested applicants should, in the first instance, contact the relevant LAG through its Implementing Partners to discuss the funding and criteria 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: www.nationalruralnetwork.ie/leader/local-action-groups/.
- The 2020 Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) with funding of €2m, launched in June. The CEP provides capital grants towards enhancing the facilities available to communities. The CEP is administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area.
- The July stimulus package, of €5m, launched by the Department in August 2020, provides funding under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) for community centres and community buildings.
- The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Under the 2020 programme a “Schools/Community Safety Measure” is being funded. This may fund the provision of safety related infrastructure in the environs of a school or community space such as lighting, car park and footpath upgrades and digital speed safety signs.
- The CLÁR programme 2020, launched at the end of May (closed for applications under these measures at the end of August last). The applications received are now being assessed and it is hoped to announce successful projects by November next.
- The 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been tailored to focus on interventions that can support the economic and social recovery of our rural towns and villages, and assist them in responding to the challenges presented by COVID-19. Car parking improvements expressly designed to encourage increased footfall in town centres and that deliver a benefit to the community as a whole are included among the activities that are eligible for funding. The July Stimulus Package provided an additional €10 million of funding that allowed for the expansion of the Scheme and brought the total funding available for the Scheme this year to €25 million. This funding will provide funding for more projects in rural towns and villages to respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19. A total of €6.1m has been approved for 226 projects to date in 2020 with additional successful projects due to be announced in due course.
- The closing date for the Standard Town and Village Renewal Scheme is 30th September 2020 with communities being encouraged to submit their applications through their Local Authority by that date.
