Community Centres Investment Fund

We recognise the vital role that Community Centres play at the heart of each community in bringing people together, engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged, and building stronger, more coherent communities.

The Community Centres Investment Fund is the largest ever capital investment in Community Centres. It provides funding for investments in Community Centres in order that these vital services remain useable, accessible, and safe and continue to meet the needs of the community into the future.

A report has been compiled on the outcomes of the 2022 Community Centre Investment fund. A copy of that can be accessed here.

This capital fund of €25 million is providing funding for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres in both urban and rural areas.

Funding is being made available under 2 Categories, with grants of between €10,000 and €100,000 available:

Category 1: Small scale projects and improvements to facilities - €10,000 to €25,000

Category 2 Larger scale projects - €25,001 to €100,000

The Portal for online application will open on May 29th, 2026, at MyPobal Portal and will remain open until July 13th, 2026

Potential applicants are encouraged to register on the application portal in advance of this date.

Template Eligibility Checker and Application Form, Guidelines and FAQs

A template Eligibility Checker and Application Form for Community Centres Investment Fund 2026: Refurbishment Grant, with advice on how to complete each section of the form is being provided here in advance of the online application process opening.

Application Guidelines on all aspects of Community Centres Investment Fund 2026: Refurbishment Grant, can be found here.

Answers to Frequently asked questions about the Community Centres Investment Fund 2026: Refurbishment Grant can be accessed here; this will be updated as required throughout the application window.

Case Studies

To support you with your application a sample of cases studies on previous successful projects under the Community Centres Investment Fund are attached here.

Information sessions

The Department will host a number of online information events during April and May and check in clinics will be provided from April to June 2026 to support committees in preparing and submitting an application under Community Centres Investment Fund 2026: Refurbishment Grant. These information sessions will be recorded and can be viewed here in due course.

Committees interested in attending these information sessions should register their interest in advance. Links to the first 3 events are listed below.

8 April: Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF) 2026: Refurbishment Grant Information Event - 8th April 2026

9 April: Community Centres Investment Fund 2026: Refurbishment Grant- PAU Registration event / check in clinic 9th April 2026

10 April: Community Centres Investment Fund 2026: Refurbishment Grant- PAU Registration event / check in clinic 10th April 2026

This capital fund of €20 million provided funding for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres in both urban and rural areas.

Funding was made available under 2 Categories, with grants of between €10,000 and €100,000 available:

Category 1: Small scale projects and improvements to facilities - €10,000 to €25,000

Category 2 Larger scale projects - €25,001 to €100,000

A list of successful Category 1 projects is available below.

A list of successful Category 2 projects is available below.

• The Community Centres Investment Fund – New Builds Measure was launched in 2023 to invest circa €20 million in new build multi-functional community centres with a minimum grant of €1,000,000 up to a maximum of €6,000,000.
• The Community Centres Investment Fund New Build – sought applications for projects on brown or green field sites that had all the necessary planning and consents secured so they were already at an advanced stage and ready to commence following a tender process.
• Following a competitive assessment process, an investment of over €30 million, which will deliver 12 new community centres nationwide has been approved.
• The twelve successful community centre projects, will receive capital grants of between €1 million and €6 million to build multi-functional centres in areas that currently lack community facilities.

List of the successful projects under of the Community Centres Investment Fund 2023 – New Build

In 2022 capital funding of over €45 million was provided for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres in both urban and rural areas.

Funding was available under 3 Categories, with grants of up to €300,000 available:

Category 1: Small scale projects/improvements to facilities - up to €25,000

Category 2: Larger scale projects - €25,001 to €100,000

Category 3: Major projects - €100,001 to €300,000

Funding was 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 and youth facilities
• works to develop Community Centres as Social Hubs through the development of Community Cinemas, Youth Hubs and Community Libraries
• essential maintenance works (e.g. roof repairs)

Successful projects under Categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Community Centres Investment Fund can be viewed here.

Information on funding allocated to the Community Centres Investment Fund can be found here: Community Centres Investment Fund - Funding Allocations

If you have any questions about the Community Centres Investment Fund please contact CCIF@drcdg.gov.ie