Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
906. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht what funding has been and will be provided by his Department for community centres, libraries and recreational amenities in the Saggart, Citywest and Rathcoole areas. [36086/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a number of capital programmes designed to support community groups with capital funding towards community centres, libraries and recreational amenities. Of particular importance for these specific purposes are:
• The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), which provides funding towards capital costs for the refurbishment and upgrade of community centres that are open to and used by a broad range of groups. Under the CCIF, over €7.31 million has been approved for 142 projects in County Dublin.
• The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) has supported community facilities across the country since it was introduced in 2023. Under CRF South County Council was allocated over €2.75 million in 2023 and more than €2.24 million in 2024.
• The Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027 was announced in April 2024 and is supporting investment of €22.6 million in eleven state-of-the-art library infrastructure projects and a further €2.6 million in twelve next generation mobile library vehicles. The Department provided funding of €1 million to South Dublin County Council under the Libraries Capital Programme 2016-2022 to support the construction of North Clondalkin Library which opened in June 2021. The Department also provides a significant contribution towards annual leases for the Lucan and Tallaght libraries.
Full details on all schemes operated by my Department are available on the Department's website. Furthermore, the details of the thousands individual funding allocations my Department has provided each year to communities across the country are available in tabular form on my Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/500c6-what-was-funded/
While all details are published on the website, the table below outlines details of projects approved under the Community Centre Investment Fund and the Community Recognition Fund, in the broad localities referred to.
|
Scheme |
Town/Village |
Project Description |
Grant Approved |
|
CCIF 2022 |
Rathcoole Community Council Company Limited By Guarantee |
To fund an electrical upgrade of the Rathcoole Community Centre building including new central switchboards. |
€50,000 |
|
CRF 2023 |
Saggart/Citywest |
Saggart Schoolhouse Community Centre enhancement to include boundary upgrade, drainage, landscaping, play/activity areas, outdoor seating/lighting and event space |
€380,000 |
|
CRF 2023 |
Tallaght & Countywide |
Tallaght County Library Installation of gamerspace equipment and a range of sensory supports |
€200,000 |
|
CRF 2023 |
Tallaght, Clondalkin & Saggart/Citywest based in Tallaght |
Community Bus managed by South Dublin County Council in conjunction with South Dublin Volunteer Centre |
€65,000 |
|
CRF 2023 |
Tallaght |
Provision of new half-court MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght All members of the community can avail of this facility as part of park amenities |
€70,000 |
|
CRF 2024 |
Kilnamanagh AFC Clubhouse & External Training Area (Community Hub) |
The project is for the club to build a clubhouse for all its members and the wider community in Tallaght & the surrounding areas and to extend the use of the clubhouse to adults/children currently residing in the refugee centres in Cookstown, Citywest & St Johns House in Tallaght Village. |
€100,000 |
|
CRF 2024 |
Clondalkin LEA |
Fit out of the community centre through fit out of the youth cafe space, furniture and hardware |
€195,000 |
