Minister Calleary Announces Over €26 Million for Improvement and Refurbishment Works on Community Centres Nationwide
Minister Calleary announces over €26 million for improvement and refurbishment works on 369 community centres nationwide
- 369 community centres to receive funding of up to €100,000
- Works include building renovations, enhanced amenities, accessibility measures and energy upgrades to help build resilience of communities.
- Works include building renovations, enhanced amenities, accessibility measures and energy upgrades to help build resilience of communities.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has today (March 11th, 2025) announced funding of €26.1 million under the 2024 Community Centre Investment Fund, which will deliver enhancement and refurbishment works on 369 community centres nationwide. In excess of €109 million has now been approved under the fund.
The successful community centre projects announced today will receive capital grants of up to €100,000 under category 2 of the fund. This builds on the recent approval in November of over €7.8 million for small scale refurbishment works of up to €25,000 on over 400 centres under category 1.
Projects in County Sligo that are included in the projects being funded under today’s announcement are:
| Organisation | Facility | Description | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aclare Development Council CLG | Kilmactigue Community Centre | To fund the replacement of the roof | €99,500 |
| Ballintrillick Environmental Group CLG | The Benwiskin Community Centre | To fund a project to replace the roof, install new fascia and replace the solar panels | €43,830 |
| Banada Abbey Hall Development CLG | Banada Abbey Community Hall | To fund energy improvements | €95,356 |
| Belt Torc Development Company Ltd | Company Ltd Moylough Community Centre | To fund the renovations which will include a new heating system, new door, internal painting, kitchen boiler for tea, coffee and new sound system | €90,992 |
| Bunninadden Sports and Leisure CLG | Bunninadden Community Centre | To fund the replacement of doors and windows, replace the toilets in all the toilet areas, replace flooring the throughout the toilet and kitchenette areas and to paint the interior of the centre | €49,378 |
| Keash Village Enhancement Ltd | Keash Community Hall | To fund insulation and interior upgrades | €37,839 |
| Oxfield Sport Centre Ltd | Oxfield Sport Centre | To fund the essential maintenance of the roof and to upgrade the lighting | €98,000 |
| Riverstown Branch Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann | Morrisson Cottage Riverstown | To fund a new kitchen and catering preparation area | €90,000 |
| St. Michael's Cloonacool (Community) Centre CLG | St. Michael's Cloonacool Community Centre | To fund flooring replacement, interior painting and installation of outdoor lighting | €26,100 |
| The Model Arts & Niland Gallery CLG | The Model Arts & Niland Gallery | To fund the installation of a new lift | €62,674 |
| Tubbercurry Family and Childcare Resource House Project | Tubbercurry F.R.C. (Family Resource Centre) Community Facility | To fund fire safety upgrades, upgrading accessible bathroom, kitchen, installation of lift and general renovations | €100,000 |
| Cranmore/Abbeyquarte r Community Centre CLG | Abbeyquarter Community Centre | To fund the update bathroom facilities and replace a broken door | €65,676 |
| Culfadda Hall Company Ltd CLG | Culfadda Community Building | To fund the installations of new toilets, a community café | €71,257 |
Making the announcement, Minister Calleary said:
The funding I am announcing today under the Community Centre Investment Fund will ensure that 369 communities across our cities, towns and villages will benefit from enhanced community facilities. This follows on from funding for over 400 facilities announced in November.
Community Centres are the lifeblood of our communities. They play host to some of our most important occasions, in good times and in bad. Again in recent weeks we have seen the importance of these centres for their local communities as many of them became emergency hubs in the aftermath of storm Éowyn.
The funding that my Department provides under the Community Centre Investment Fund will empower these communities to continue to provide that much needed communal space.
Projects being funded today vary greatly depending on the needs identified by the various communities; some will see the fabric of their facilities improved through roof and insulation enhancements; others will see kitchen and toilet upgrades; while others will ensure their buildings are more accessible and energy efficient.
Whatever improvement works are being completed, we can be sure that this funding is being targeted at the heart of communities, both rural and urban, and the results of these works will see our community facilities being more sustainable, enjoyable and accessible places.
Speaking at the announcement today, Jerry Buttimer TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Community Development and Charities, said:
I have to commend the volunteers in each of these centres, who give up so generously of their time and skills for the good of their communities. I want to congratulate each of the successful committees receiving funding today and wish them well with their various projects.
I welcome the Programme for Government commitment ensuring this scheme becomes a permanent rolling fund to upgrade, refurbish and build local community centres.
The full list of community centres receiving funding is available here.
The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024
The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024- Refurbishment Measure will provide grants as follows:
Category 1
Small scale projects/improvements to facilities €10,000 – €25,000.
A minimum of 5% of the total project budget is required by the applicant as match funding.
405 project were approved for funding under category 1 in November 2024 with associated funding of over €7.8 million.
Category 2
Larger scale projects €25,001 to €100,000.
A minimum of 10% of the total project budget is required by the applicant as match funding.
Funding is available for capital works such as:
- Costs associated with building/renovation works (e.g. materials for extension, refurbishment, modernisation, flooring electrical and or plumbing)
- Costs associated with acquisition, installation or replacement of equipment which forms an integral part of a building e.g., kitchen units, worktops, sinks, bathroom fittings etc.
- Costs associated with improving the energy efficiency of the building.
- Rental costs of equipment required for the project e.g., diggers, cement mixers, etc.
- Labour costs for registered tradespeople such as builder, plasterers, decorators, plumbers, electricians etc., as necessary for the completion of the project.
- Purchase costs of equipment necessary for the ongoing success of the project following completion e.g. kitchen appliances for a kitchen renovation project, improved lighting, installation of a lift to improve assess for disabled people, etc.
- Improvements of facilities which are necessary to meet fire safety and building regulations e.g. lining of walls and floors, escape routes, wiring, sockets, electrical switches and distribution boards, gas tanks, gas burning flues, heating systems and appliances.
- Fire safety equipment e.g. fire doors, fire alarm system, etc.
- Upgrade works on electrical, gas and heating appliances to ensure they meet regulations and standards and so on.