Registration now open for new Community Centre Investment Fund

Community groups and organisations are invited to apply for a new round of funding for the upgrade and refurbishment of community centres, as registration has opened for a new €15 million capital fund for the upgrade and refurbishment of such structures.

A number of information sessions will provide guidance on the application process, the first of these being held this week on Wednesday, 18th May, with another to follow on Wednesday, 1st June (2.30pm-4pm).

All interested applicants must register online at gov.ie/communitycentresfund. Registration for the fund must be completed prior to submitting a formal application, which opens on Tuesday, 7th June and closes on Thursday, 14th July.

The announcement was made last week by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD.

“Our local community centres and parish halls are the heart of our towns, villages and parishes. Many of them need improvement works and that is why I have put this new fund in place,” Minister Humphreys said. “I am encouraging all community groups to look at this fund and think about how they can use it to improve their own local parish hall or community centre.

“It’s vitally important for local groups and organisations to: 1) Complete the online registration process and 2) Attend the information sessions and learn about the application process and criteria before submitting their formal application.

“Completing these 2 important steps will help to ensure your organisation is well placed to submit a strong application to this Fund.”

Deputy Colm Burke welcomed the announcement.

“Fine Gael wants to build stronger and safer communities by making our towns, villages and parishes across Cork better places to live, work, run a business and raise a family. The Community Centre Investment Fund will provide grants of between €10,000 up to a maximum of €300,000.

“Funding is available for capital works such as improvements to communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities, energy retrofitting, new windows / doors / heating systems, works to address safety concerns and works to improve disability access,” he noted.

Applicants can register to attend an information session at gov.ie/communitycentresfund