Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
1294. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the plans to provide funding to ensure that rural communities have access to venues for local social and cultural events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35277/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a number of capital programmes that provide funding to rural communities to ensure access to community facilities that are used for local social and cultural events.
The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. I was pleased to launch the 2026 CLAR programme on 10th March this year with a record budget of €12 million. Measure 1 of the 2026 programme will continue to support the development of community facilities and amenities and is currently open for applications via local authorities.
The current LEADER programme covers the period from 2023 to 2027. It provides support to rural communities under a broad range of themes, including Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, and has for many years supported community spaces that provide for local social and cultural events, such as community centres and local theatres. Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their Local Action Group, through its Implementing Partner to discuss the eligibility of the proposed project and the funding that may be available.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. This scheme places particular emphasis on projects which support sustainable employment creation, town centre resilience and regeneration, enhancing our streetscapes, and bringing derelict and vacant buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose community spaces. This may include projects which provide multi-purpose venues for social and cultural events.
A call for proposals for application under the Building or Land Acquisition Measure strand of the scheme is currently open, with a closing date of 29 May 2026. It is my intention to open the ‘Main Scheme’ and ‘Project Development Measure’ strands of the scheme in the second half of the year.
The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) was introduced to provide high quality, accessible, community spaces that are available to communities in both rural and urban areas. The scheme supports enhancement and refurbishment works on existing facilities and the construction of new centres where such a need has been identified.
I was delighted to launch the latest round of funding under CCIF 2026 on the 26th March for enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres - facilities which will no doubt support social and cultural events. The fund will be delivered across 2 categories with maximum funding levels of €25,000 and €100,000 respectively. The fund will open to online applications on 29th May and I will announce the successful projects before the end of the year.
Details of these programmes can be found on my Departments website.
