Service
Community Centres Investment Fund
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
This is a new capital fund of €15 million which will provide funding for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres in both urban and rural areas.
The application process opened on the 7th of June and closed to applications on the 14th of July at 3pm. A total of 1,048 applications were received with funding of almost €71 million sought.
The fund will support groups in every county to carry out refurbishments and improvements of their local community facility.
Funding is 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
Applications under Category 2 and 3 must include a minimum contribution of 5% of the total project costs from the applicants own funds.
The overall cost for a proposed project (including match funding) must not exceed:
- Category 1: € 30,000
- Category 2: €120,000
- Category 3: €350,000
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 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, repairs to roof, and so on
Categories 2 and 3 only: Professional fees for works-related service providers are eligible to a limit of 10% of the total project cost. E.g. engineers, architects, quantity surveyors.
Successful projects under Categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Community Centres Investment Fund can be viewed here
Organisations that have been successful in their application to the Community Centres Investment Fund are invited to attend an online support event in January 2023 specific to their category of funding. If you have not yet received information on the support event for your category, please contact onlinesupport@pobal.ie.
Recordings will be made available to grantee organisations following the events.
Funding of €20 million was secured under Budget 2023 for community centres across the country in 2023.
Under an enhanced Community Centres Investment Fund, grants will be provided for the delivery of new build community centres in targeted areas as well as upgrade or improvement works to existing community centres.
The details of the 2023 capital scheme are currently being developed within the Department, with further details being announced in due course.
These documents are for information purposes only so that groups could familiarise themselves with the fund.
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