My Department’s schemes and supports are underpinned by two cornerstone policies - Our Rural Future and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities - which recognise the important role community and voluntary organisations, and community facilities, play in supporting social inclusion, community participation, and rural regeneration. Work is ongoing on the development of successors to both strategies and has been informed by significant public and stakeholder consultations.
Over recent years there has been strong funding increases for the schemes supporting these policies. Schemes such as the Community Centres Investment Fund provide significant funding for upgrades to community centres. Other funding opportunities exist through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, CLÁR and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. In addition, the Local Enhancement Programme provides small-scale grants to community and voluntary groups to assist with facility improvements and equipment purchases, which can help groups to maintain and improve their facilities. Such investment can help reduce costs, for example by improving energy efficiency of buildings or providing new more energy efficient equipment. Furthermore, ongoing operational supports are provided for some groups through the Community Services Programme, which supports community organisations and social enterprises delivering essential local services and managing community facilities.
While my Department has not carried out a specific assessment of the cost pressures, it regularly engages with local authorities, Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Action Groups and community organisations, and is fully aware of these pressures. As the Deputy is aware, the Government announced a package of fuel supports in April in response to the impact of energy cost increases. We continuously review our schemes to ensure our available funding is put to best use in terms of supporting our communities throughout the country.
