Minister Joe McHugh has announced that funding for community projects in disadvantaged areas of Donegal has been increased to €600,565 – about four times the original allocation.
“Donegal is receiving one of the highest allocations in the country behind only Dublin and Cork as part of this Government’s concerted efforts to specifically target the needs of communities,” Mr McHugh said.
“The original allocation was €159,461 but that has soared to more than €600,000 after the overall budget for the expanded Community Enhancement Programme was increased by €8million. That is a clear marker of the community focus of the Fine Gael-led Government.”
The Community Enhancement Programme, run by the Department of Rural and Community and Development, will focus its work on improving facilities such as community centres and amenities, town parks and common areas and spaces, CCTV and energy efficiency projects.
Mr McHugh, Government Chief Whip and Minister for the Irish language, Gaeltacht and the Islands, said: “This fund has a specific aim and that is to invest in communities, to invest in projects that improve communities and to invest in the people in those communities, to instil and develop a sense of pride and belonging.
“I want to thank Minister for Rural and Community and Development Michael Ring for recognising the great need for funding like this in Co Donegal.
“This money is based on need and it will help to make noticeable and practical differences to people’s lives for example landscaping and lighting in towns or villages or improving comms and internet access for a community.”
The Community Enhancement Programme builds on and replaces the Communities Facilities Scheme and the RAPID programme that were launched last year by the Department of Rural and Community and Development.
A total of €12.5million of grant funding will be available through the scheme to local authorities around the country this year.
The funding will be used to fund applications that were made under the original call in May, but which were not funded or not fully funded. A full list of projects supported will be available later in the year.