Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
112. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the applications process, assessment criteria and total funding allocated to date this year under the current community recognition fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13986/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the future funding plans for the community recognition fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13987/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there will be another round of funding for a new tranche of the community recognition fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14539/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 117 and 131 together.
The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) was introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. To date €100 million has been allocated to support cities, towns and villages.
It is a matter for each local authority to identify the most appropriate locations for funding based on their analysis of the level of arrivals in each location and in the context of previous funding supports and local needs identified.
Each local authority has been provided with a set allocation based on the number of new arrivals there. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the application process for communities and the selection of projects for proposal to my Department for consideration. The terms and conditions for the scheme require that the proposals submitted by local authorities are developed based on direct engagement with communities and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The proposals submitted by the local authorities are subsequently reviewed by my Department to ensure that the requirements of the fund are being met, particularly in terms of the location of funding, the level of consultation at a local level and that the level of investment is appropriate for the type of intervention envisaged.
Under the initial €50 million provided under the 2023 fund, some 906 projects were approved with over 700 of these now fully complete and drawn down.
Under the 2024 fund, almost 350 projects have been approved to date with the assessment ongoing for the final tranche of applications. Of this figure, 185 projects were approved in August 2024 for €16.4 million under tranche 1 of the 2024 fund. A further 164 projects were approved for €14.3 million last month under tranche 2 of the fund. I look forward to announcing the successful projects under the third and final tranche in the coming months.
I want to see progress on the current iteration of the scheme before determining next steps. The Government continues to look at how we can further support impacted towns and villages across a range of different schemes and services. Any decision in respect of a further round of funding under the Community Recognition Fund will be considered in the context of those deliberations and the annual budgetary process.
