Grants to upgrade community centres
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has announced a new €15 million capital fund to support community groups for the upgrade and refurbishment of Community Centres. This is an investment in both rural and urban communities across the country.
The Community Centres Investment Fund will support community groups with the upgrade and development of their Community Centre facilities.
Funding will be available under 3 Categories with grants of between €10k and €300K available:
Category 1: Small scale projects/improvements to facilities - €10,000 to €25,000.
Category 2: Larger scale projects - €25,001 to €100,000.
Category 3: Major projects- €100,001 to €300,000.
Applications under Category 2 and 3 must include a minimum contribution of 5% of the total project costs from the applicants’ own funds.
Funding is available for capital works such as: -
• Works to improve communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities
• Energy retrofitting, new windows / doors / heating systems
• Upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas
• Works to address safety concerns, including as a result of fire safety audits
• Works to improve disability access
• Improvements to assist in providing additional or better services to the community such as Meals for the Elderly & youth facilities
• Works to develop Community Centres as Social Hubs through the development of Community Cinemas, Youth Hubs and Community Libraries
• Essential maintenance works, repairs to roof, etc
There will be a two-stage application process with applicants asked to register their organisation in advance of the formal application process going live.
Registration will open on Tuesday, May 3, applicants need to register as 'users' on the portal in advance of the application process opening on Tuesday, June 7. The closing date for applications is Thursday, July 14.
The department will be hosting a number of online information events in May and June 2022 to provide guidance in relation to the application process and details will be released in due course.
Guidelines and a sample application form are now available at www.gov.ie/drcd.
Community groups are urged to familiarise themselves with the application process and criteria well in advance of submitting their application.
Minister Humphreys said: “Community Centres are at the heart of every community in Ireland.”