From Department of Rural and Community Development
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The Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring T.D. has announced that his Department’s support for the regeneration of Dublin’s North Inner City Dublin will be increased by €2 million to €5.5 million in 2019.
Minister Ring made the announcement alongside the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and local T.D., Paschal Donohoe, today at the Lourdes Day Care on Sean Mac Dermott St. The Centre is undergoing a major extension and renovation thanks to funding provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development in 2018.
The €5.5 million which Minister Ring has allocated to the north east inner city for 2019 will provide infrastructure and supports for local community development initiatives in areas such as Childcare, Youth Services, support for the elderly and environmental improvements. It will also enable continued support for the 50 additional community support jobs which have been created in the area in 2018.
Speaking at Lourdes Day Care Centre, Minister Ring said:
“I’m really excited to see what can be achieved next year, with enhanced support from my Department. This area, which is at the very heart of our capital city, continues to receive the support and investment from Government which it needs in order to help it realise its potential. This will benefit not only the local community, but the city as a whole.
“I’m delighted that my Department is playing an important role in the regeneration of Dublin’s North East Inner City. Each year since 2017, I have significantly increased the funding to this area. This is a clear sign of the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the Mulvey Report is fully implemented. I would like to commend Minister Donohoe for continuing to champion Dublin’s North East Inner City.
“Nowhere is the regeneration of this area more evident than in the Lourdes Day Care Centre which is undergoing significant extension and alteration. The extension to this facility and the two support workers which my Department provides are just a small part of these supports. The Centre is just one of 34 community projects in the area which has being supported through €3.5 million in funding from my Department this year.
“The work on the Centre, which is due for completion later this year, has been funded with over €400,000 from my Department, and will result in significant improvements for this vital community facility. We need to support and invest in community hubs such as this which represent all that is positive about the area and this significant increase in funding will allow us to do so.”
The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., added:
“I want to acknowledge the hard work of the North East Inner City Initiative, in conjunction with the local community, in implementing the Mulvey Report to date. The supports provided by Government are helping to build confidence in this thriving community and helping it to achieve its full potential. The community spirit in the Lourdes Day Care Centre is a shining example of the resilience of this locality, which is at the heart of my constituency, Dublin Central. I look forward to the further progress we will make together across the coming period.”
ENDS
The North East Inner City Initiative (NEIC) is working to implement the actions of the Mulvey Report to help make the area a safe, attractive and vibrant living and working environment for the community and its families with opportunities for all to lead full lives. The Department of Rural and Community Development provides funding to help achieve those goals.
Funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development was €2.5m in 2017. This increased to €3.5m in 2018 and included funding of €1m for a pilot Social Employment Fund. Fifty posts have been created to date in 2018. These posts come under four initiatives: Childcare, Youth, Elder and Environmental. The organisations who have benefitted from their employment are Lourdes Youth & Community Services, Community After Schools Project, Dublin Adult Learning Centre, Larkin Centre for the Unemployed, North Wall CDP, Belvedere YC, ASEP and Sunflower Recycling (The Green Ribbon). In 2019 the funding will increase to €5.5m, including €2m to continue the pilot Social Employment Fund.
Projects funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development to date in 2018 by the NEIC
Department of Rural & Community Development funding
| Anna Liffey Drug Project ACMT Pilot Project (to end 2018) | €139,000 |
| North Inner City Folklore Project (incl. 2019 Rental of 1A) | €50,000 |
| 2018 Community & Family Events | €300,000 |
| NEIC Community Grants Scheme | €130,000 |
| Lourdes Day Care Centre Extension and alterations | €340,000 |
| FAI Late Night Leagues | €100,000 |
| Irish Rail Bridges clean up (co-fund) | €37,330 |
| Reader In Residence Charleville Mall Library | €75,000 |
| Coder DoJo Charleville Mall Library | €35,000 |
| Vantastic Pilot Project – Transportation for Elderly | €15,000 |
| Pilot Barista Training Course | €6,240 |
| Career Leap Course (contribution to ETB) | €24,320 |
| Youth Counselling | €14,000 |
| Community Action Network – Dialogue | €8,000 |
| HOPE – therapeutic services | €9,000 |
| Street Art / Murals | €80,000 |
| Shopfront Improvement Scheme | €60,000 |
| Programme Office Activity Costs | €75,000 |
| NICDATF – Drug Awareness Programme for Schools | €25,000 |
| Education Bursary for Childcare Workers | €25,000 |
| CYPSC – What Works Here Hub (Training) | €12,000 |
| Men’s Health & Wellbeing Programme | €22,380 |
| Youth Counselling (YPAR) | €46,000 |
| The Green Ribbon (non-staff costs) | €143,918 |
| Sean MacDermott St. Pool (Extended Hours Pilot Project) | €102,000 |
| Youth Outreach Streetwork (Swan Youth) | €75,000 |
| ELI Restorative Practice Phase 2 | €41,300 |
| Integrated Youth Services Mapping – Phase 2 | €25,000 |
| NEIC Arts Projects | €50,000 |
| 20 No. “Big Belly” Smart Litter Bins | €75,000 |
| Larkin Community College Motorcycle Maintenance Course | €16,500 |
| Diamond Park, Adult Exercise Equipment | €40,000 |
| P-TECH School Model | €20,000 |
| Sports Ambassador Contribution (Kellie Harrington) | €10,000 |
| Total : | €2,226,988 |
The Department also supports the community through the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP)
The new SICAP programme covers the period 2018-2022.
The new programme has two goals
The new programme allows more intensive engagement with individuals, more local flexibility and has an emphasis on outcomes.
It provides for €190 million in funding over the period 2018-2022.
SICAP statistics for the Dublin Inner City area:
| 2018 | Target | Actuals (to date) |
| Local Community Groups supported | 163 | 133 |
| Individuals supported | 745 | 629 |
| % living in disadvantaged areas | 29% | 28% |