Over €30 million for Community Centres shows Fine Gael’s commitment to building stronger communities – Kyne

The launch of a brand new Community Centre Fund is further proof of Fine Gael’s commitment to building stronger communities, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today (Saturday) announced the successful projects under the Community Centre Investment Fund 2023 – New Build. The Minister made the announcement while visiting Newcastle in Galway City, which is to receive over €4.3 million to build a brand new community centre.

Fine Gael’s Seanad spokesperson for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Gaeltacht Affairs, Senator Seán Kyne, attended the launch and explained: “The new fund is specifically for communities that do not currently have a community centre. Now areas which lack facilities can avail of grants of up to €6 million for multi-functional community centres.

“For several years I’ve worked with colleagues in Fine Gael to establish a fund specifically for communities which do not have a community centre.

“While I was delighted that Minister Humphreys established the Community Centre Investment Fund in 2022, which to date has provided €45.8m to over 860 projects, it is for maintenance and upgrading of existing centres only. Since, I’ve pushed for a fund targeted at communities without a centre at all. With today’s announcement we now have that fund.

“Twelve communities across the country will now be given between €1 million and €6 million to build brand new centres that will serve as focal points for their communities and a wide variety of community groups and organisations. The centre for Moycullen, Co. Galway, for example, will be a multi-purpose one catering for community groups working with children and older people and local sports clubs as well as acting as a venue for the arts and cultural events.

“With Údarás na Gaeltachta onboard too it’ll also act a new co-working hub and innovation space as well as for Irish language events and activities.

“The Community Centre Investment Funding has now provided over €75 million to towns and villages all over the country. With the population of every county in Ireland growing steadily, this fund underscores Fine Gael’s commitment to building stronger communities across Ireland today and into the future,” concluded Senator Kyne.