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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Ceisteanna (70, 95, 109)

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

70. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if further support is planned under the Covid stability programme given the ongoing challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the revenue of charitable and community organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60004/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kieran O'Donnell

Ceist:

95. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to provide further support such as that provided under the Covid Stability Programme given the ongoing challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60159/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ciaran Cannon

Ceist:

109. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of support that her Department has provided to community and voluntary organisations owing to the impact of Covid-19 to the financial viability of such important organisations; and if further support is planned given the ongoing nature of the Pandemic. [60195/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 95 and 109 together.

My Department has provided supports to community and voluntary organisations in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 through a number of measures.

Through the COVID-19 Stability Fund , my Department supported a total of 840 organisations in 2020 and 2021 with total funding of approximately €48m. That fund is now closed and there are no plans at present for further rounds of the Stability Fund.

While the Stability Fund is now closed, my Department has taken a number of further measures to support community and voluntary groups impacted by COVID-19. I recently launched the new €9m Community Activities Fund . The Community Activities Fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs, as well as with improvements to their facilities. Groups will also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase equipment.

In order to ensure there is sufficient flexibility to allow funding to be targeted to where it is needed in each Local Authority area, it will be administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs).

My Department also recently announced a further extension of €1m to the CSP Support Fund to cover the period up to December 2021, bringing the total funding allocated to the CSP Support Fund to €8.95m for 2020-2021. This funding was provided to organisations on the Community Services Programme (CSP) who required additional assistance to continue to retain their CSP supported employees on their payroll. It also provided assistance for the Employers PRSI contribution and supported organisations considered by my Department to be most in need to cover overhead costs such as insurance, light, heat and Audit fees.

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