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The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Friday, August 2nd 2024) announced €16.5 million to deliver 185 community projects across the country.
The major investment will support a diverse range of projects such as upgrades to sports facilities, community centres, parks, walking trails and playgrounds.
As part of the initiative, funding is provided to support the purchase of buildings and vehicles for community use.
Among the projects being funded today include:
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:
“I’m delighted today to announce €16.5 million for 185 projects right across the country.
“This major investment, under the Community Recognition Fund, will support the upgrade of sports facilities, community centres, walking trails, parks, playgrounds and so much more.
“The projects are diverse in nature – demonstrating the fact that communities have different needs.
“All the projects being funded today are designed to bring communities together and make them more vibrant places to live, work and visit.
“This investment is just the first of a number of tranches that will be announced under the Community Recognition Fund over the coming months.
“This is about giving back and saying ‘thank you’ to communities for what they do week-in, week-out.
“I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this funding will have on the ground in communities all across Ireland.”
Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, said the government is committed to supporting communities in their efforts in welcoming new arrivals from other countries:
“The projects being announced today are only the start of the story for 2024.
“To give community groups and local authorities every opportunity to plan and make best use of these funds, the application process this year is being delivered across 3 phases. The next phase runs up to September 30th and the final phase up to January 31st next year, so there is plenty time to plan and prepare.
“I would encourage community groups to liaise with your local authorities in this regard. I want to commend all of the communities who have worked collaboratively with all stakeholders, I think we can all see what can be achieved when we all put out shoulder to the wheel.”
Details of the 185 projects announced today are available in this document:
Community Recognition Fund 2024 - Phase 1 approved projects
Published August 2024.
All local authority areas that applied for funding under phase 1 of the Community Recognition Fund 2024 are benefitting from today’s announcement. Phase 2 will remain open for applications until September 30th and Phase 3 will be open until January 31st, 2025.
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) 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 providing support to cities, towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries.
To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund was announced in March 2024. The additional 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.
This allocation is being targeted at larger projects than in 2023, with a minimum of €50,000 per project, thereby providing a real and tangible benefit to communities. Applications under the current round of funding can be submitted by local authorities across three phases, so as to allow flexibility and adequate engagement and collaboration on larger projects. The phased closing dates for receipt of applications are May 31st, September 30th and January 31st, 2025.
The Community Recognition Fund is being administered at a County level by the local authorities. As the first phased closing date of 31st May 2024 has now passed, communities are encouraged to engage with their local authorities with a view to developing applications for phases 2 and 3 under the 2024 fund.
Link to the supports available through the local authorities administering the fund can be found by visiting: Community Recognition Fund