Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
73. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the roll-out of the community recognition fund; if she will advise if the fund is on track to allocate the target of 60% of funding in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28383/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe community recognition fund is a significant initiative to support communities hosting people from Ukraine and other countries. Will it be possible to get an update on whether the fund is on track to allocate the target of 60% funding in 2023?
I thank the Deputy. In May I announced details of €50 million in funding for more than 880 projects under the community recognition fund. At its core, the community recognition fund recognises the efforts of communities who have gone above and beyond what might be expected during a very challenging period. It will support towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.
Through this initiative communities will be assisted to develop projects ranging from large-scale multipurpose sports facilities to walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals. The fund has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there. It follows an extensive consultation process with local authorities who submitted individual lists of projects for approval. Of the 880 projects approved for funding, there is a good mix of smaller scale projects that can be delivered quickly and larger scale projects that will draw down funding in tranches. I expect there will be strong delivery across projects in the coming months, and my officials will continue to liaise with our colleagues in local authorities on delivery and the management of the financial allocations. I look forward to seeing the benefits for communities across the country as these projects are delivered over the coming months.
I thank the Minister. There is a lot of very welcome stuff in it. Many communities in my constituency, across Cork and across the State will benefit, which I welcome. Specifically, the question related to the target that exists of €30 million this year and €20 million next year. I would be grateful if the Minister could give me an answer on that and as to when the advertisement for next year's round will come out. Is it anticipated to happen at the start of next year or towards the end of this year that organisations will be asked to submit requests for next year's fund?
I will not delay the Minister. That scheme was really successful. A lot of groups did not get funding and are waiting to see when they can apply again. Maybe if there was any extra funding or funding that was not spent between now and the end of the year, the Minister might look at the ones that made applications for this year. The Minister and her Department were on the ball. A lot of new people were forced on communities and the communities responded very well. However, some of the State agencies did not come in and give them the support they needed. The Minister's Department did, and many organisations are stretched, doing their best to try to accommodate, help and support, particularly for children who are staying in hotels. They are providing outlets, looking into community halls and getting in contact with sporting organisations. I hope the Government will respond and give the Minister and her Department the support they deserve. The communities have responded, she has responded, and she needs more funding for that project.
I have one supplementary question. I echo the sentiment Deputy Ring espoused - I was going to call him Minister Ring. Many communities have put shoulder to the wheel and it is great to see them acknowledged and rewarded for that. However, there are anecdotal tales that sometimes certain projects are being advanced where those communities might not have had as many refugees or Ukrainians coming into the community. Is there any kind of audit being done by the Department or somebody keeping a watchful eye to make sure those communities that do the heaviest of lifting are getting the resources the scheme was intended for?
I concur with my colleagues that the scheme is very important. The 48 different projects that were awarded funding in County Mayo of in the region of €2.2 million will have a really positive impact on both the individuals and the communities that were allocated funding. The direct engagement with local communities and through local community development groups in municipal districts was very important. It demonstrated the efficiency of getting these projects delivered. Certainly the insistence to have 60% of the funding spent before the end of the year did put the wheels in motion for a lot of these shovel-ready projects that might not have had access to any other schemes to get them off the ground. I commend the Minister. We look forward to a second round being announced very shortly.
As the Deputies have all said, this is a very popular scheme. I announced the funding last month. There is €50 million allocated. It is up to the local authorities along with the community groups to get the projects delivered as quickly as possible. They need to start spending. There is no point coming back looking for more money if they have not spent what they have. I mean that. There is always pressure to get this money spent. It is about delivery, delivery and delivery. It is with the local authorities. I will keep the pressure on them but I will ask all the Deputies to keep the pressure on their own local authorities. Cork City Council got €1.163 million, Cork County Council got €2.307 million and Mayo County Council got €2.354 million. There is a good lot of money gone into the different local authorities. There is a range of projects but I have to stop.
It is interesting and novel to hear a Minister urging this side of the House to make sure to spend the money. She is right, absolutely. The local authorities and organisation need to make sure they spend it. The timescale of it, necessarily, was tight enough and some organisations were not aware of it and might like to put in more comprehensive applications. They might like to come back next year, if she can tell us when that advertisement is going to come out and how organisations can prepare for it.
The other comment I will make is more for the record and is not particular to the Minister's Department. Cash is welcome and beneficial in respect of community facilities. An awful lot of communities have done enormous good and hard work and absorbed pressure on resources. What Government also needs to do is address cross-departmental issues whether it is Garda numbers in a community, a library, access to general practitioners or school places. Government as a whole across the Departments needs to match those needs as well.
I am just looking here at some of the projects in Cork city. Ballyphehane Togher Community Development Project got €48,000 to replace a community bus. That should not take them too long. Douglas Street in Cork city got a pocket park development and signage for a historic trail. There is some stuff here and they should be able to do it fairly smartly. Another community bus, equipment----
I am not sure the bus has been acquired.
Togher community got equipment and the Carraig Centre in Ballincollig got room dividers. I am just giving the Deputy examples. There are some bigger projects and they will take longer. That is why it is a €50 million fund and €30 million this year and €20 million next year is how we want it spent. I would say to anybody who can spend it to get at it now boys and do not waste time. Get the money out there to the communities that need it. My Department has a suite of other schemes. If local authorities are not delivering, as I said, and if they do not spend the money, they cannot expect me to give them more money. Keep at them boys, and I will keep at them as well.
