€1.8 million to upgrade 18 Community Centres in the Midlands

Over €1.8 million to upgrade 18 Community Centres across the Midlands region

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 and Sports Complexes across the region 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 €1.8 million for the upgrade and development of 18 Community Centres across Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

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 region.

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

Announcing the overall investment, Minister Humphreys said:

“The local community centre is at the heart of our towns, villages and parishes. 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.”

Some of the successful applicants announced today include;

Co. Offaly: Killeigh Community Centre – €300,000
The delivery of a 200 metre recreation hall that will hold up to 300 people and operate as a social hub. The project will also see the provision of a canteen, toilets and a meeting room that will be used for public information sessions.

Co. Longford: Drumlish Community Association – €259,909
To create three state of the art fully accessible activity/meeting rooms for a variety of activities.

The full list of successful projects being announced today for the Midlands include;

Co. Laois: Errill Vision Group CLG – €119,300.00
Co. Laois: Treo Nua Company Limited – €87,817.05
Co. Laois: Portarlington Union of Parishes – €29,859.00
Co. Laois: Clonaslee Community Development Association Ltd – €46,293.65
Co. Laois: Killeshin Community Centre CLG – €143,914.25
Co. Longford: Drumlish Community Association Company Ltd – €259,909.23
Co. Longford: Ardagh Community Centre Association – €25,000.00
Co. Longford: Kenagh Community Centre – €25,000.00
Co. Longford: Colmcille Community Centre CLG – €58,850.84
Co. Offaly: Killeigh Community Centre Development Association Company Ltd – €300,000.00
Co. Offaly: Shinrone Development DAC – €32,283.88
Co. Offaly: Midlands Regional Youth Service Company Ltd – €100,000.00
Co. Offaly: Moneygall Community Hall – €25,000.00
Co. Offaly: Birr Development Company Limited – €95,000.00
Co. Offaly: Kilcormac Development Association – €98,418.62
Co. Offaly: Rhode Parish Enterprise Association Company Ltd – €54,339.55
Co. Westmeath: Rochfortbridge Community Centre Company Ltd – €300,000.00
Co. Westmeath: Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann – Moate – €76,810.31

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.