4252. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if the Government will consider establishing a dedicated community project support officer within Louth County Council 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. [55241/26]

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. 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, including Louth Local Development.

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

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. The Louth PEACEPLUS Action Plan, overseen by Louth County Council, will deliver 15 projects across the themes of community regeneration and transformation, thriving and peaceful communities, and celebrating cultural diversity.

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.

My Department's SIOL Programme, which was launched 8 July last, will deliver integrated supports to 15 targeted urban areas, including in Drogheda Co. Louth. Each of the qualifying local authority areas where the scheme will operate, will receive an administration fee of 5% towards staff support for the delivery of the scheme at local level.

Finally, my Department currently provides €2.9 million 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. In this context, Louth Local Authority received an allocation of €97,487.80 in ASR funding in 2026.

It is recommended that community groups in County Louth are encouraged to engage with Louth LCDC, Louth Local Development and Public Participation Network (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.