Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 30 September 2025.

MLA

Mr Gordon Lyons

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

30 September 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statement

Heading

Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5143351

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I wish to make a statement on the launch of the Northern Ireland community infrastructure fund, which is a major new investment supporting the refurbishment and improvement of community buildings and facilities right across Northern Ireland. In June, I provided a written ministerial statement to the Assembly setting out my intention to launch a scheme in support of the halls, hubs and centres that rarely make headlines but that make an enormous difference in sustaining local life across Northern Ireland. I have moved at pace, so tomorrow, the Northern Ireland community infrastructure fund will open. Last Wednesday night, at an event in Pomeroy, I was pleased to be joined by fellow elected representatives, voluntary and community leaders and other funders to launch the fund. It was great to see the energy in the room and recognition of the importance of halls and community buildings and of sustaining them, and, importantly, it was great to get feedback from sectoral leaders endorsing this timely intervention that responds to need in our communities. My vision for the fund is not just about bricks and mortar; it is about people, places and potential. In my role as Communities Minister, I have seen at first hand how vital community buildings and local halls are — they could be church halls, Orange halls, sports clubs or village halls — as the beating heart of our cities, towns and villages. They are the places where children learn, where people gather and where faith, sport, culture and heritage are celebrated. Across Northern Ireland, from Strabane to Strangford and Portrush to Pomeroy, they bring people together not because they are grand or state of the art but because they are the thread that weaves our communities together. They are where communities gather, grow and support one another, where a teenager discovers confidence, where those who are isolated find friendship, where neighbours become volunteers and where the fabric of our communities is knitted together. Many of those buildings are under strain. They are ageing and tired. I have seen that at first hand in my visits across Northern Ireland. Many Members have told me of the importance and constraints of those facilities in their constituencies. In too many cases, they are no longer fit for purpose. They are cold in winter, inaccessible for some people, outdated and inefficient. Volunteers and trustees are stretching themselves to keep the lights on or to make the most of spaces that are inadequate or limiting. I think that we can all agree that that is not good enough. Those experiences have convinced me that the Government need to step in with practical support. I have chosen to act with urgency and ambition in establishing the Northern Ireland community infrastructure fund, which will disburse £4·3 million to our grassroots and local communities. That is a direct response to the challenges that face our communities. It is a significant and timely investment and is proof of me delivering, not just discussing. The fund will provide grants of up to £40,000 for over 100 individual projects. That is more than 100 opportunities for local communities to improve, adapt and flourish. I know that the funding will not meet every need. Demand will undoubtedly outstrip what is available. This is a pilot that will provide an opportunity to build understanding of need and impact and learn lessons. To help to deliver the fund effectively and with impact, we have partnered with Co-operation Ireland to administer the scheme in partnership with my officials. That is a voluntary organisation with a proven track record of expertise, networks and trusted relationships. My aim is that the Northern Ireland community infrastructure fund will support voluntary and community organisations to sustain their buildings and ensure that they are ready to serve for years to come. However, it is also about the potential to better serve their community. That could be the church hall that has upgraded its kitchen and now runs a weekly community cafe that brings people — young parents, pensioners and newcomers to the area — together. Such examples are not just upgrades; they are transformations. There is another vital part of the story: local suppliers. My fund will allow community groups to work with local SMEs and microenterprises. By using experienced local tradespeople, builders and service providers, we will support small businesses and maintain jobs. This investment will not just improve buildings but multiply its impact by supporting livelihoods and building pride. It will be social value in action. The fund will be open to voluntary and community groups, including faith-based organisations, sports clubs, church halls, village halls, Orange halls and other centres that provide a wide range of community activities. I will take a moment to highlight the role of faith-based organisations. Church halls have long served as more than places of worship. For generations, they have provided an inclusive space for many, from parent-and-toddler groups to lunch clubs and Scouting and Guide groups. One of the real strengths of the fund is the fact that it is open to a wide spectrum of community spaces across Northern Ireland, whether that be a community centre in Londonderry, a faith-based group in Portadown, a sporting club in Omagh or an Orange hall in Carrickfergus. Those buildings may look different, serve different purposes and be rooted in different traditions, but they can all play a vital role in community life in which they are open to and used by the wider community. The scheme will provide funding towards repairs to existing community buildings. That could include refurbishment or structural repairs; small-scale refurbishment or renovation works to improve communal facilities such as kitchens and toilets, or changes to enable multiple uses for premises; capital works for accessibility improvements, including upgrades such as ramps or lifts; and energy-efficiency measures such as boiler replacement, window upgrades and solar panels. The first stage of the application process opens tomorrow. The fund will award successful applicants up to 95% of the cost of their capital project, to a maximum value of £40,000. We are asking organisations to contribute 5% of the project cost, whether that is through fundraising, reserves or loans. That is not a barrier but a way to strengthen ownership and sustainability. That modest contribution ensures that groups are actively invested in their projects, encourages local fundraising and partnership and helps to stretch public funding further. Over the next fortnight, we will hold a range of information sessions, including in-person events in Belfast, Larne, Newry, Enniskillen, Dungannon and Londonderry, as well as online events, to help groups to learn more about eligibility for the fund and about the application process. The application process will be clear and transparent, with robust criteria to ensure fairness and value for money. Stage 1 of the process is an expression of interest. That will open tomorrow and run until 29 October 2025. Stage 2 of the application process will begin on 19 November and run until 9 January 2026. I encourage all Members to engage with the guidance, which is now on my Department’s website, and to signpost prospective applicants to the support that is available. Change does not always begin with sweeping reforms. Sometimes, it begins with a new roof, a new boiler or a new kitchen, but those changes unlock so much more. With the fund, we are investing not just in buildings but in our communities — community capital and infrastructure. I look forward to seeing the fund deliver for communities across Northern Ireland. I commend the statement to the House.

The fund is open to all eligible voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland, regardless of geography, tradition or type of activity. There are no predetermined targets or preferential criteria. We have developed clear eligibility and assessment criteria, as set out in the guidance notes. Grant applications will be assessed on the basis of evidence, need, capacity, readiness, impact, sustainability and, yes, value for money as well.

First of all, a written ministerial statement was provided in June. On the back of that, the Committee asked for more information. I was happy to get that briefing organised, and it will happen shortly. However, I highlight the fact that all members of the Committee — indeed, all MLAs — were invited to the launch last week, where they would have been able to hear more about the fund. Unfortunately, the Committee Chairman did not make it. In fact, none of the Members on the other side of the House were able to make it to that information event. It would have been useful to have heard more about the fund. Ultimately, it is not the role of the Committee to decide policy; it is the role of the Committee to scrutinise and to assist me in the development of policy. There will be an opportunity as we assess the evaluation of the uptake, and you will have the opportunity to ask those questions at Committee. As for his other question about how the assessment will be carried out, that will be done by Co-operation Ireland because of the experience that it has in those matters. That, of course, will be done against the assessment criteria. My advice to him and everyone else is this: instead of quibbling about the process, to make sure that you are aware of the process and can help to provide the necessary support to those who apply so that we can maximise our understanding of the need. I would like to see the fund rolled out further in the future, and that information will be useful.

There will be flexibility, because we understand that some applicants may not have the capital available to be able to draw that down immediately, so we can work on a case-by-case basis with those who need additional help, and we will be happy to provide that at a further stage of the process.

First of all, I hope that the Member listened to the answer that I gave to Ms Brownlee, where I made it clear that there would be flexibility. More information on that will be available. We are trying to make sure that we help people and facilitate improvements in a number of areas, such as the physical condition, accessibility and usage buildings. Applications will also be scored on energy efficiency and reduced maintenance costs, so, of course, those things will be taken into consideration as well. However, let us be aware that, in many rural areas, it is simply not an option to have any other form of heating system in place. All that needs to be taken into consideration. The Member specifically mentioned oil. Sometimes, oil is the only option that is available.

Yes, we are doing a number of things. First, we are putting the screening process in place at the beginning. That means that those who are not eligible, because they do not meet the basic criteria to start off with, will not then spend a lot of time and energy filling out an application form. Secondly, information sessions will be available online, during the day and in the evenings, and there will be sessions that people can go to in person, again during the day and in the evenings, to make sure that they have all the information that they need. Officials will be on hand to answer any additional questions that people may have. We are not trying to exclude anybody. Rather, we are trying to help everybody. I say this to all groups and organisations: answer the questions that are in front of you and provide as much information and evidence as you can. We are ensuring that the process is as simple and straightforward as possible. We are not trying to exclude anybody or trip anybody up. Rather, we are trying to make sure that people have the ability to articulate their needs, and the criteria of need will then be applied to assess the applications.

1,999 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:17 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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