Programme provides small grants to enhance facilities in communities throughout the country
Michael Ring TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, has today confirmed that 2,106 community initiatives around the country have been allocated a total of €4,524,124 under his Department’s Community Enhancement Programme.
The Community Enhancement Programme provides capital grants to community groups to help them to enhance facilities in disadvantaged communities. It supports a range of activities in all areas of communities, such as childcare groups, playgrounds, recreational groups, sports grounds, landscaping, and supporting the elderly.
Having announced an open application process for the €4.5 million programme in 2019, Minister Ring is now in a position to confirm the details of the projects which have been allocated funding.
Some examples of the over 2,000 projects supported include:
- Acquired Brain Injury Ireland in Cavan (€4,000) to help develop a community garden for individuals living with a brain injury.
- Balbriggan Meals CLG in Dublin (€6,000) for a hot food holding unit to allow them to expand their services.
- Castleisland Day Care Centre in Kerry (€1,500) for equipment for the Day Care Centre users.
- Drumkeeran Youth Café in Leitrim (€4,000) for construction and enhancement works.
- Killawalla Community Centre in Mayo (€3,400) for upgrades to the community centre.
The full list of projects supported is available on the following link https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1e973a-community-enhancement-programme-projects/
Speaking today, Minister Ring said:
Having allocated over €4.5 million under the Community Enhancement Programme in 2019, I am delighted to confirm that more than 2,000 projects are set to benefit from it. A relatively small amount of money can go a long way and this investment will greatly benefit local community projects throughout the country.
Today’s announcement follows an open application process which was administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area. It is intended to run the programme again in 2020.
Minister Ring continued:
Typical enhancements under the Programme include the renovation of community centres and community amenities, improvements to town parks and common areas and spaces and the purchase of equipment which is used to benefit the community. The programme has also supported energy efficient upgrades, developing community gardens, provision of defibrillators, CCTV, and sports and IT equipment.