Over €33m in funding will upgrade hundreds of Irish community centres

Over €33 million has been announced for the upgrade of hundreds of Irish community centres. 

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. 

Funding will be used for upgrades and renovations - including building extensions, upgraded kitchen facilities, installation of electric vehicle charging points, improved disability access, replacement of windows and doors and fire safety upgrades - at 278 community centres and hubs across the country. 

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, alongside Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, announced the news at Hartstown Sports and Leisure Centra in Dublin 15 today (December 8). 

Speaking about the news, the Tánaiste 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." 

He continued: "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.”

Minister Humphreys also commented and 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.”

Successful projects under the Fund include €300,000 for Killeigh Community Centre in Co Offaly for the delivery of a 200m recreation hall which will hold up to 300 people and operate as a social hub, and just over €209,000 for Burncourt Community Hall in Co Tipperary for a regeneration project which will see the delivery of a new outdoor recreation, meeting and entertainment space. 

Three hundred thousand euro will also be used to extend St Catherine's Community Services Centre in Co Carlow to provide a new family room and consultation rooms, while €206,000 will provide Murroe Wood Park Sports Facility in Co Limerick with a community café, community gym, remote working space and changing facilities as well as gym equipment. 

Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Centre in Co Clare will use €300,000 in funding to renovate and repair the main hall, toilets and changing facilities as well as the installation of solar panels and LED lighting, while just under €260,000 will create state of the art accessible meeting rooms at Drumlish Community Association in Co Longford. 

Carbally Community Development in Co Waterford will receive €300,000 to upgrade the downstairs space into a new activity hall and provide disability access. 

A full list of successful projects is available here.