Funding of €250k plus for local community centres
Twelve community centres are to receive funding of €259,993 to upgrade facilities and benefit users of all ages through the Community Centre Investment Fund.
The funding announced by the Department of Communities and Social Protection this morning and includes Mullingar Town Band - €22,426.64; Killucan Area Services Company - €14.673.10; Multy Community Centre - €20,426; Cara-Phort Family Resource Centre, Ballynacargy - €25,000; Ballinahowen Community Development Company - €24.600; Moate Community Development Association - €24,750; Ashcroft Village Close, Raharney Residents Group - €10,000; Milltown GAA - €25,000; Rosemount Community Centre - €24,998.38; Tyrrellspass GAA - €18,152; Water Street Association - €25,000; and Whitehall Community Group - €24,967.
Fine Gael Minister of State Peter Burke welcomed the announcement made by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, who declared the successful projects under Category 1 of the Community Centres Investment Fund.
“I am delighted that my colleague Minister Humphreys has made this funding available to many local community centres given the vital work that staff and volunteers there do and the invaluable services they provide.
"When Minister Humphreys first outlined this scheme, I knew it would be hugely beneficial to small communities across the country and I approached many groups to apply. This is smaller scale funding; larger capital allocations will be announced shortly," stated Minister Burke.
“Fine Gael is working to build stronger safer communities and today’s funding allocation is the latest in a long line of initiatives and supports aimed at making our towns, villages and cities more attractive places to live and visit. When we set the Department of Rural and Community Development, we wanted to focus on rural investment and key locations that form the centre of many of our communities.
"Community Centres are key buildings within parishes and localities, we see dancing groups, sports, various classes and activities held here for young and old alike and we want to invest in them to make sure they are safe, modern, hospitable and comfortable buildings for generations to come.
“Community centres are valued shared spaces and are very much at the heart of Westmeath towns and villages. I hope this funding assists in making them even better in the provision of services to people all across the county.
Minister Humphreys added that "Through ‘Our Rural Future’, I want to support locally led, ground-up projects in local communities across the country. This funding is all about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs, which have continued to serve their community".
“I also want to congratulate the successful projects and to thank them for the vital work they do in providing services in their local communities. This funding will deliver high quality capital projects for community facilities that bring benefit to the local community.”
The announcement was also welcomed by Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy, who said the funding will assist with various upgrades.
“The Community Centre Investment Fund is a key part of the Governments investment in rural Ireland, the fund in its entirety will ensure that a large number of our community centres, Parish Halls, GAA Clubhouses, Youth Facilities and Men’s Sheds hugely enhance and improve their facilities.
"I am pleased to have worked with a number of the recipients who were announced this morning in preparing and submitting their applications and I know that this funding will have a hugely positive impact in all of the successful areas”.
"The total funding allocated for Westmeath projects is in excess of €285,000 from a nationwide allocation of €12.5m. Round 1 of the Community Centre Fund covers applications for projects of up to €25,000. There will be two additional rounds of funding under the scheme announced in the coming weeks with projects being considered with a price tag of up to €300,000.
“Community buildings such as those supported in this morning’s announcement are such a key part of many rural communities. It is vitally important that all of these key facilities are renewed and upgraded regularly. The Community Centre Fund will deliver huge benefits for many small communities and I look forward to further funding announcements under the remaining strands shortly,” concluded Deputy Troy.