Minister Humphreys and Tánaiste announce over €33 million to upgrade 278 Community Centres nationwide
· Largest ever capital investment in Community Centres
· Grants of up to €300,000 provided
· Extensions to Existing Centres, Energy Efficiency Upgrades and Improved Access for People with Disabilities amongst works supported
· Community Centres, Parish Halls, Scouts Clubs, Youth Hubs, Family Resource Centres & Sports Complexes across country set to benefit
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, along with the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD, have today announced funding of over €33 million for the upgrade and development of 278 Community Centres nationwide.
The announcement under the new Community Centre Investment Fund represents the largest ever capital investment in upgrading Community Centres and will see grants of between €25,000 to €300,000 provided to successful projects.
The funding will be used to upgrade, renovate and refurbish Community Centres, Parish Halls, Scouts Clubs, Youth Hubs, Family Resources Centres and Sports Complexes across the country.
Communities in every single county in Ireland will benefit as part of the investment.
Examples of some of the types of work being supported include:
· Extensions to existing community centres
· The provision of meeting rooms, offices, counselling rooms and family rooms
· Energy Retrofitting/upgrades to Heating Systems
· Works to develop community centres as social hubs through the development of community cinemas, youth hubs and community libraries
· Works to upgrade kitchen facilities to enhance the delivery of Meals on Wheels
· Upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas
· Fire Safety Upgrades
· Essentials maintenance works, repairs to roof, re-wiring,etc
· Works to upgrade toilet facilities
· Works to improve disability access
· Replacement of windows and doors
· Installation of electric vehicle charging points
Minister Humphreys and the Tánaiste made the announcement at Hartstown Sports and Leisure Centre in Dublin 15 today.
This community facility was approved funding of €300,000 for a major upgrade.
Speaking in Hartstown today, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said:
“This Government and the last showed time and again that we’re committed to community development.
“I’m delighted to see this ground-breaking investment in community centres. It will bring real improvements to the heart of communities across Ireland.
“In time, I think it will become as significant as the Sport Capital Programme which has brought local sporting facilities up a level that would have been unimaginable 20 years ago.
“The benefits will be felt in Community Centres, Parish and Scouts Halls, Clubhouses, Men’s Sheds and Youth Facilities.
“Every county in Ireland will receive funding, for projects like new meeting rooms, refurbished and warmer buildings, new social hubs, and improved disability access.”
Announcing the overall investment, Minister Humphreys said:
“The local community centre is at the heart of our towns, villages and parishes right across the country.
“Our Community Centres come in many different shapes and sizes and provide a wide and diverse range of services and activities.
“The Community Centre is where the children go to play sport; it’s where meals are provided for our senior citizens; it’s where the local dramatic society perform; it’s where the ICA, our Men’s Sheds, Youth Clubs and other local organisation come together for their meetings and events.
“Most importantly in the month of December – the Community Centre is often the place that Santa will come to visit to meet the local children!
“It was a priority for me as Minister for Rural and Community Development to put this new funding stream in place and I am delighted to announce the successful projects today.”
The new Community Centre Investment Fund forms part of a range of measures being undertaken by the Department of Rural and Community Development to support the community and voluntary sector, and to empower thriving, sustainable communities across Ireland.