Parish halls and resource centres are among 278 community-based facilities nationwide that will receive a funding boost of€33 million from the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar confirmed details of the funding investment package that will provide upgrade, renovation and refurbishment grants.
The announcement under the new Community Centre Investment Fund represents the largest ever capital investment in upgrading Community Centres and will see grants of between €25,000 to €300,000 provided to successful projects.
The funding will be used to upgrade, renovate and refurbish Community Centres, Parish Halls, Scouts Clubs, Youth Hubs, Family Resources Centres and Sports Complexes across the country.
Communities in every single county in Ireland will benefit as part of the investment.
Examples of some of the types of work being supported include:
- Extensions to existing community centres
- The provision of meeting rooms, offices, counselling rooms and family rooms
- Energy Retrofitting/upgrades to Heating Systems
- Works to develop community centres as social hubs through the development of community cinemas, youth hubs and community libraries
- Works to upgrade kitchen facilities to enhance the delivery of Meals on Wheels
- Upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas
- Fire Safety Upgrades
- Essentials maintenance works, repairs to roof, re-wiring,etc
- Works to upgrade toilet facilities
- Works to improve disability access
- Replacement of windows and doors
- Installation of electric vehicle charging points
Minister Humphreys said many community centres are at the heart of towns and villages.
“The community centre is where the children go to play sport; it’s where meals are provided for our senior citizens; it’s where the local dramatic society perform; it’s where the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA), our Men’s Sheds, youth clubs and other local organisation come together for their meetings and events,” she said.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said every county in Ireland will receive funding and the investment programme will “bring real improvements to the heart of communities across Ireland”.
Minister Humphreys and the Tánaiste made the announcement at Hartstown Sports and Leisure Centre in Dublin 15 today. This community facility was approved funding of €300,000 for a major upgrade.