Government funding of €234,073 has been announced today for community centres and facilities in Donegal.
Local groups will share the funding which has been provided as part of the July stimulus package under the Community Enhancement Programme.
The new fund seeks to stimulate local economies by providing capital grants towards the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community centres, and community buildings. Similar expenditure on other community facilities will also be allowed.
An extra €5million is to be allocated nationwide in addition to €2m provided under that programme earlier this year.
Announcing the details, Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities said: “This €5m funding will provide capital grants to help improve community centres, and other community buildings and facilities. These important facilities operate at the heart of each community. They provide activities and services that help strengthen the bonds that tie communities together and they provide valuable services to the people in their area.”
The Minister added that the fund will be administered through existing structures that are in place under the Department’s Community Enhancement Programme. Funding will be allocated to each Local Authority area, and the Local Community Development Committee will administer the programme in each area.
In order to allow flexibility, the Department is not setting a national closing date, but will allow each LCDC to set its own, to best suit its area. The Department will require that all closing dates are no later than end October 2020. Groups should check with their LCDC for further details.
