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The Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys together with her colleague Minister Joe O'Brien have today (15 March 2024) announced a further €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund.
The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced last year 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 supporting cities, towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries.
Under today’s announcement, a further €50 million is being provided again to deliver projects over 2024 and 2025.
Local authorities, in collaboration with communities, will be funded to develop projects that will deliver long term benefits to those living in the areas selected.
Projects that will be funded include:
In announcing the funding today, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Minister Humphreys said:
“I am very pleased to be in a position to announce an additional €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund. This allocation will double the funding provided by my department to €100 million in supporting communities across the country who have responded to the humanitarian crisis in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.
“I know communities the length and breadth of the country have really stepped up to the plate in recent months in terms of welcoming families from Ukraine or those seeking asylum from other countries. This funding is about recognising the efforts and the generosity that so many communities have shown during what has been a challenging time for our country.”
Local authorities can submit funding proposals to the Department of Rural and Community Development in phases, which will allow them to respond to changing circumstances during the year.
Also speaking today, Minister O’Brien said:
“The Community Recognition Fund announced today gives local communities across Ireland another opportunity to expand and improve local facilities to continue to meet the needs of communities as they change and develop over time.
“I’d encourage communities to use this funding opportunity to consider projects that will add benefit and help meet local needs in their area.”
The €50 million has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there (allocations available below).
Minister Humphreys concluded by saying:
“Good progress is being made in the delivery of projects under the initial allocation of €50 million in 2023. These are projects which will provide long term benefits to communities for many years, such as community centre enhancements in Athboy in Meath, a walking trail adjoining the amenity park in Swinford in Mayo; and improvement works in the Family Resource Centre in Gorey in Wexford.
“I would encourage community groups in impacted areas to contact their local authority for more details and to discuss potential projects to be funded under this new round of funding.”
The department has published the full details of the scheme (including funding allocations) and local authorities are now encouraged to commence engagement with local communities to develop impactful and beneficial community projects in areas with the highest identified level of need.
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
Its focus is on strengthening community resilience and social cohesion, supporting communities so that they are empowered to face current and future challenges.
The Community Recognition Fund 2024 aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities 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 communities, towns and villages that are hosting the beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants.
The Fund will support the development of facilities that will be used 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.
€50 million is available under the Fund and this was allocated between each local authority based on the number of ‘new arrivals’ located there. The Fund is being administered at a local level by the relevant local authority. Funding proposals, comprising of projects selected and prioritised locally, should be submitted by each local authority in the timeframes advised to the Department of Rural and Community Development for final approval.
The allocations per county are as follows:
| Local authority | CRF 2024 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 |