Service
Community Recognition Fund
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
The Community Recognition Fund aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities for the entire community in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.
The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in cities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants including towns identified for the rapid build homes programme. The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.
The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in support cities, towns and villages nationwide. Based on the continued impacts on communities throughout the country and the need to support these communities in welcoming new arrivals, a further €50 million is being provided under the Community Recognition Fund 2024.
It is essential that the funding proposal submitted by each local authority is developed based on direct engagement with impacted communities and in consultation with the Municipal Districts, Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and the local Community Response Fora. Proposals should also be consistent with Local Economic and Community Plans.
The proposal also has to demonstrate that the funding is targeted at and specifically invested in those cities, towns and villages where the highest level of new arrivals are located and where there is a clear need for investment identified.
The Community Recognition Fund 2024 will be allocated based on the numbers of arrivals in each local authority area.
Projects to be funded will be capital in nature, deliver medium-long term benefits for the communities in which they are located, and be capable of being delivered over the course of 2025 and 2026. A minimum spend of 50% of the allocation must be incurred in 2025. Eligible projects will receive funding for capital costs, but not for any ongoing operational or running costs.
The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000 applying. Smaller projects cannot be artificially combined to meet the minimum threshold of €50,000 – while the 2023 scheme provided funding for small scale investment in clubs and communities (e.g. for small scale equipment), the focus of the 2024 scheme is on projects of greater scale and impact.
Local authorities have scope to invest the funding based on their own distinct local needs as identified through a “bottom-up” approach and based on the community engagement referenced above.
However, the type of projects eligible for funding are:
An important difference in this 2024 Community Recognition Fund is a move away from the original approach where local authorities sent in a single list of projects for approval. In order to address changes in the numbers and locations of new arrivals during 2024, each local authority must reserve at least 20% of their allocation for the submission of a proposal under the third application window. The application windows are as follows:
| Application window 1 | Up to 31st May 2024 |
| Application window 2 | 1st August to 30th September 2024 |
| Application window 3 (minimum 20% of allocation ring-fenced) | 1st January 2025 to 31st January 2025 |
The Fund will be administered at a County level by local authorities. If you have a query regarding a project please contact your local authority, details are here .
More specific details around Community Recognition Fund can be found at the following links:
The 2024 allocations per county are as follows:
| Local Authority | Allocation |
| Carlow County Council | €1,171,621 |
| Cavan County Council | €1,155,190 |
| Clare County Council | €2,608,408 |
| Cork City Council | €1,214,022 |
| Cork County Council | €2,014,691 |
| Donegal County Council | €3,391,917 |
| Dublin City Council | €2,140,584 |
| Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown | €765,487 |
| Fingal County Council | €1,538,573 |
| Galway City Council | €1,702,897 |
| Galway County Council | €1,303,230 |
| Kerry County Council | €3,946,095 |
| Kildare County Council | €830,007 |
| Kilkenny County Council | €867,987 |
| Laois County Council | €1,012,996 |
| Leitrim County Council | €2,212,974 |
| Limerick City And County Council | €1,400,378 |
| Longford County Council | €893,486 |
| Louth County Council | €1,317,173 |
| Mayo County Council | €2,428,540 |
| Meath County Council | €1,188,066 |
| Monaghan County Council | €914,972 |
| Offaly County Council | €1,055,308 |
| Roscommon County Council | €1,002,434 |
| Sligo County Council | €1,742,899 |
| South Dublin County Council | €2,249,663 |
| Tipperary County Council | €1,465,434 |
| Waterford City And County Council | €1,436,394 |
| Westmeath County Council | €1,740,646 |
| Wexford County Council | €1,703,377 |
| Wicklow County Council | €1,584,550 |
| Total | €50,000,000 |
The successful projects under the 2023 Community Recognition Fund were announced on 18th May 2023. Full details Community Recognition Fund 2023-List of Successful Applicants