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.

This capital fund of €20 million is providing 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.

Information sessions

The Department hosted a number of online information events to support committees in preparing and submitting an application under this fund.

A recording of one of these information sessions can be viewed here. The slide show for this event is available below. Further information events, with question and answer sessions, can be viewed here and here.

Guidelines and FAQs

Answers to Frequently asked questions about the fund and Information Guidelines can be accessed in the documents 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: <strong>Community Centres Investment Fund - Funding Allocations</strong>

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