35. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department has considered establishing a dedicated community project support officer within each local authority whose role would be to assist voluntary community organisations in identifying suitable funding opportunities, preparing grant applications, managing procurement requirements, completing drawdown documentation and ensuring compliance with Departmental funding conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53197/26]

My department’s mission is to ‘Support the development of sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities throughout Ireland, including in rural, island and Gaeltacht areas, embracing their unique cultural, linguistic and environmental features.”

A key part of achieving this mission is ensuring that communities in urban, rural and Gaeltacht/Island areas are supported to access services and supports, including supports to identify and apply for appropriate funding opportunities.

My department currently delivers this support through funding staff to provide tailored supports in local authorities, local development companies and through agencies such as Pobal and Údarás na Gaeltachta.  Examples of some of the supports funded by my department, are outlined below.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention programme overseen by my department. The programme supports individuals and community groups who face disadvantage, providing targeted supports in areas such as employment, mental health, education, and community engagement.  The programme contracts are awarded to the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in local authorities and the services are provided via staff funded in the 49 Local Development Companies.

LEADER is a multi-annual programme which is delivered in all rural areas through 33 Local Action Groups (LAGs) around the country. The LAGs have dedicated project officers to assist local communities and voluntary organisations in the application process.

In addition, my Department’s Community and Language Support Programme provides ongoing capital and ongoing assistance to support community organisations and committees throughout Gaeltacht areas that work for the Irish language and for the benefit of Gaeltacht communities. A team of Gaeltacht based regional officers are available to assist with all stages of the application process and drawdown of funding requests.  My department also provides funding to Local Development Companies on 5 offshore islands in Cork, Galway and Mayo, along with funding for Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, the umbrella organisation that represent the interests of all the inhabited offshore islands.

Town Regeneration Officers, or TROs, funded by my Department, work closely across multi-disciplinary teams in local authorities who are collectively responsible for town regeneration.  This includes engagement with business interests and community organisations in developing and delivering regeneration and town renewal projects under my department’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).

The new €25 million Community Centres Investment Fund will support community groups with the improvement and refurbishment of their community centre facilities. My department hosted a number of online information events and check-in clinics during April to June 2026 to support committees in preparing and submitting an application under this year’s round of funding. These events were held in order to provide guidance and supports in relation to the application process.

The current PEACEPLUS programme 2021 – 2027, co-funded by my department and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), provides for pre-development application support workshops for potential applicants and post-approval supports under a number of investment areas.

In relation to the Community Services Programme, organisations deemed a potential fit with the Programme arising from Open Calls are supported by Pobal to assist them in developing a Business Plan to formally apply for the programme.

Finally, my department currently provides €2.9m annually to support the community functions of local authorities, in particular the work of the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) through Additional Staff Resource (ASR) payments. Staff in these work areas engage with a diverse range of community, charitable and voluntary groups on a wide variety of funding programmes, that are administered by LCDCs.

It is recommended that community groups are encouraged to engage with their LCDCs, Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of all existing funding opportunities.

My department is committed to keeping under review the administration of all our funding programmes and schemes to ensure they remain fit for purpose and can be accessed by those who need the supports that are available.