2024. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason that community recognition fund grants have yet to be awarded for 2024. [34160/24]

The 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 in providing support to cities, towns and villages nationwide who have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding was announced earlier this year under the Community Recognition Fund.

Proposals under this year's fund can be submitted across three rounds of applications. The  closing dates for receipt of applications under the first round has now passed. The next round closes on September 30th and the final round on January 31st, 2025.

On August 2nd I was delighted to announce €16.5 million to deliver 185 community projects across the country under application round one. A list of the approved projects can be found on my Department's website.

I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this funding will have on the ground in communities all across Ireland and I hope to announce further projects as the second and third application rounds progress.