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For Oral Answer on : 10/10/2024
Question Number(s): 97 Question Reference(s): 40486/24
Department: Rural and Community Development
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has considered ways to support communities in towns and villages to provide facilities such as community centres or community hubs where none exist, and where no land is available to the local authority on which to build such facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
My Department has a number of capital programmes designed to help community groups who are carrying out large infrastructural development projects. This includes the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), the Community recognition Fund (CRF) and the LEADER programme.
The LEADER programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.
The new LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027 has now commenced across the country. A strong focus of this new programme, which builds on the many successful previous programmes, will be the capacity of marginalised and new communities, particularly in areas that have not benefited from LEADER support in the past. I am confident that those delivering the new LEADER programme will provide support to projects at a local level that aim to address the needs of their communities as they arise.
The RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. Since the Fund was established in 2018, a total of 243 projects have been approved for funding of over €584 million for projects.
The projects supported by the RRDF revitalise rural towns and villages, address vacancy and dereliction and provide the necessary facilities required by communities.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
In May 2023 I announced funding of €164 million for 30 large scale projects. Many of these projects include elements which restore and build community facilities. I expect to announce a call for Category 2 applications shortly.
The CCIF has provided capital funding for improvement and refurbishment works on over 860 existing community centres across Ireland and the construction of 12 new community centres.
Last June, a further €20 million in capital funding was announced to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The CCIF 2024 will provide funding from €10,000 up to a maximum of €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.
This allocation brings the total amount of funding announced under CCIF to over €95 million since 2022. This is an unprecedented level of investment in our community centres.
The TVRS launched in 2016 and since then over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The 2023 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects that bring economic and social vibrancy to town centres in line with Government’s policies, and which will encourage more people into town and village centres to work, shop and socialise.
The Building Acquisition Measure was launched under TVRS in 2022 to allow local authorities to purchase vacant and derelict buildings for future development as community assets. Past iterations of TVRS have also funded acquisition of land in town centres for the development of town regeneration and community focused projects as well as the refurbishment or development of multi-purpose community spaces in Ireland’s rural towns and villages. Scheme priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and to respond to changing needs and opportunities.
The TVRS is administered through local authorities, who work closely with local communities and businesses to develop proposals that can make a lasting impact on rural towns and villages. I expect to announce the 2024 scheme shortly.
The CRF was established in 2023 to recognise the efforts made by cities, towns and villages in welcoming new arrivals to Ireland. Funding of €100 million has been allocated to support projects across a range of areas including the purchase of land and buildings for community use. The final phase for the 2024 fund closes on January 31st, 2025 and is being administered by the local authorities.
