Joe O'Brien - Green Party
Minister Joe O’Brien Launches Community Recognition Fund
18th May, 2023
Minister of State for Integration Joe O’Brien, alongside an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Ministers Heather Humphreys and Stephen Donnelly, launched the Community Recognition Fund today. The fund aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries, many of these communities being in the Fingal area.
At the launch, Joe O’Brien TD said:
“I am delighted to help launch the Community Recognition Fund today. It will enable communities to put in the infrastructure to help those seeking Temporary Protection and International Protection Applicant status.
“I am also really pleased to see so many organisations in my constituency of Fingal granted funding. They have all done incredible work in this area and this will ensure they will continue to do so.”
There are many initiatives and programmes across all of Fingal offering support for those coming from other countries seeking protection. The total funding for Fingal comes to €1,748,912.
This includes the upgrade & enhancement of Holywell Park in Swords, the Library Book Donation Programme to Area Schools in Balseskin, the installation of a Sensory Garden in Skerries/Rush/Lusk as well as play bags and play equipment for the Balseskin, Balbriggan and Skerries/Rush/Lusk areas.
The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants.
The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine.
€50 million is available under the Fund, and this was allocated between each local authority based on the number of ‘new arrivals’ located there in January 2023.
The Fund is being administered at a local level by the relevant local authority. A funding proposal, comprising of projects selected and prioritised locally, was submitted by each local authority to the Department of Rural and Community Development for final approval.
A key principle of the Fund was the need for local authorities to engage with impacted communities. The proposals submitted were developed based on direct engagement with impacted communities and in consultation with the Municipal Districts, Local Community Development Committee and the local Community Response Fora.
All the funding proposals have now been assessed with the €50 million being fully subscribed.
Over 880 projects are included in the proposals and range in scale of less than €1,000 to €1 million. They are very varied in nature but include largescale multi-purpose sports facilities, upgrades to community facilities, equipment for sports clubs, walks, playgrounds, community buses and equipment for festivals.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Breakdown of funding for the Fingal area
| Fingal | Blanchardstown/Castleknock | 1. Installation of Story Trail in Dublin 15 2. Installation of Playground in Fortlawn 3. Installation of Sensory Garden 4. Resurfacing of 2 no. existing MUGA’s 5. Installation of 2 no. half MUGA’s |
€240,000 |
| Fingal | Blanchardstown/Castleknock (Dublin 15 | Public Wi-fi in Community Centres in Dublin 15 | €120,000 |
| Fingal | Blanchardstown/Castleknock (Dublin 15) | Library Book Donation Programme to Dublin 15 Schools | €33,000 |
| Fingal | Installation of 1 no. Digital Information Board and 2 no. Smart Benches and free public Wi-Fi in a public open space/park in Dublin 15 LEA | €42,000 | |
| Fingal | Swords | Upgrade & enhancement of Holywell Park, Swords including provision of Calesthenics/Exercise Equipment; Half Basketball Court; Boules Area; Teq Ball & Table Tennis Tables; Informal Play Area; Ball Stop Netting; Tree Trail; Youth Hub; Learn to Cycle Track (design & build); tappable signage | €466,512 |
| Fingal | Swords – | Laptops for Holywell and Applewood Community Centres | €35,000 |
| Fingal | Swords | Installation of lift to River Valley Community Centre | €190,000 |
| Fingal | Swords | Public Wi-Fi in Community Centres in Swords Area | €72,000 |
| Fingal | Swords | Library Book Donation Programme to Swords Area Schools | €26,400 |
| Fingal | Swords | Purchase of sensory equipment & wall for Swords Library | €10,000 |
| Fingal | Swords | Installation of 1 no. Digital Information Board and 2 no. Smart Benches and free public Wi-Fi in public open space/park in Swords | €42,000 |
| Fingal | Swords | Play bags & play equipment for community use for unstructured & independent play | €8,600 |
| Fingal | Baleskin | Play lockers/play bags/play equipment for community use for unstructured & independent play | €23,600 |
| Fingal | Baleskin | Library Book Donation Programme to Area Schools | €6,600 |
| Fingal | Howth/Malahide | Upgrade & enhancement of Kettles Park, Swords including provision of Calesthenics/ Exercise Equipment; Half Basketball Court; Boules Area; Teq Ball Tables; Informal Play Area | €180,000 |
| Fingal | Howth/Malahide | Purchase of sensory equipment & sensory wall for Howth & Baldoyle Libraries | €20,000 |
| Fingal | Howth/Malahide | Installation of boules track and half basketball court in Baltray Park | €30,000 |
| Fingal | Howth/Malahide | Installation of 1 no. Digital Information Board and 2 no. Smart Benches and free public Wi-Fi in public open space/park in Swords | €42,000 |
| Fingal | Santry | Installation of Story Trail in Santry Demense | €20,000 |
| Fingal | Balbriggan | Play lockers/play bags/play equipment for community use for unstructured & independent play | €25,600 |
| Fingal | Balbriggan | Installation of 2 no. Smart Benches in public open space/park in Balbriggan | €9,000 |
| Fingal | Balbriggan | Purchase of sensory equipment & sensory wall for Balbriggan Library | €10,000 |
| Fingal | Skerries/Rush/ Lusk | Play lockers/play bags/play equipment for community use for unstructured & independent play | €27,600 |
| Fingal | Skerries/Rush/ Lusk | Installation of Sensory Garden | €50,000 |
| Fingal | Skerries/Rush/ Lusk | Installation of 2 no. Smart Benches in public open space/park in Skerries and Rush respectively | €9,000 |
| Fingal | Skerries/Rush/ Lusk | Purchase of sensory equipment & sensory wall for Skerries or Rush Library | €10,000 |