Written answer
Departmental Data
1055. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reason an organisation (details supplied) appears to be discriminated against in the context of distribution and allocation of public funding; and the reason the support appears to be diluted and re-directed to support the set-up of entities with the aim of replacing the organisation. [45309/26]
Comment on this
My Department operates a wide range of funding schemes aimed at ensuring all relevant organisations can access funding to support their work. I am fully committed to supporting a wide range of organisations, including the group referenced in the information supplied by the Deputy, in the valuable work they do.
My Department provides a range of supports which are available to individual community groups including ICA groups.
These supports include -
• The €7 million Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2026, the results of which I will be announcing shortly;
• The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme 2024 - 2028; and
• The LEADER programme.
My Department has sought to encourage the growth of new models of community engagement, in particular with a focus on helping to address social isolation. This is not to the detriment of existing models or groups, but seeks to ensure a breadth of organisations exist so that there are opportunities for everybody to engage with their communities. The schemes operated by my Department are reviewed on a regular basis, and I will continue to ensure our schemes afford an opportunity for all relevant community groups to be supported, while also supporting new ways of promoting inclusion and participation in our communities.
I would urge all community organisations, including the organisation referenced by the Deputy, to check my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcdg, and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPNs), to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.