Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 January 2023
206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to liaise with local community groups in County Kildare and throughout the country, with a view to ensuring that adequate support is available to facilitate their ongoing requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3911/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to liaise with voluntary and community groups throughout the country, with a view to assisting by whatever means is appropriate in the course of the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3918/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 213 together.
As I previously advised the Deputy in response to Dáil Question No 21 of 29th September 2022 my Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, published in August 2021, sets out the actions my Department is taking to support the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sports, Media and Irish language Sectors. These include supports for both voluntary and Community Sectors throughout the country, including Co. Kildare.
In that context, my Department provides significant funding supports for a wide range of programmes, initiatives and support schemes to communities at national and regional level. The Deputy will of course be aware that overall responsibility for the Community and Voluntary sector rests with my colleague the Minister for Community and Rural Development.
My officials and I continue to liaise with a broad range of Stakeholders across many communities to provide supports which are valued by all of our communities as important resources for social cohesion, individual and community wellbeing and for the presentation of Ireland as an attractive destination for tourism and sustainable inward investment across all Counties.
For Budget 2023, I announced, on 28th September, 2022, details of a €1,142m gross funding allocation for my Department’s Sectors out to the end of 2023. This funding support brings important new initiatives and a continuation of some existing measures to support further growth and development for communities within the various Sectors. The Government also provides supports to Communities to address cost of living challenges across the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and the Community and Voluntary Sectors.
