Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
864. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the community recognition fund from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; if the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15168/25]
View answerThe Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects. To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding was announced under the Community Recognition Fund in March last.
Last August, €16.4 million was approved to deliver 185 community projects across the country under the first tranche of the 2024 allocation. On 24th February, I approved over €14 million to deliver 164 projects across the country for the second tranche.
The closing date for the third and final tranche has now passed and my officials have commenced the process of reviewing the proposals submitted by each local authority. I hope to be announcing the successful projects under that tranche in the coming months.
Under the 2023 iteration of the scheme Cork County Council had 83 projects approved of which 68 are fully completed. Over €1.6 million has been drawn down to date. Under window 1 and 2 of the 2024 iteration of the scheme, 22 projects have been approved to date. My officials have begun the assessment of the third and final tranche and I hope to make an announcement in the coming months.
Details of the projects funded through Cork County Council and the level of drawdown under CRF 2023 and 2024 are in the table attached.
