Over €355,000 announced for Community Centres across County Cavan

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today announced funding of over €355,000 for the upgrade and development of 15 Community Centres across County Cavan. 

The new Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) will support groups in every county to carry out refurbishments and improvements of their local community facility. 

Grants of up to €25,000 will be provided to almost 600 groups nationally in both rural and urban communities. 

The funding will see improvements to community centres, GAA clubs, parish halls, youth centres, men’s sheds and facilities used by our elderly. 

The Community Centre Investment Fund is a new scheme introduced by Minister Humphreys and represents the largest single investment in community centres in decades. Today’s announcement of Category 1 projects will be followed by further funding announcements for larger scale projects in the coming weeks. 

Funded works

Among the capital works that will be carried out include: 

• upgrades to Heating Systems / Energy Retrofitting 
• installation of new windows / doors 
• works to upgrade and improve kitchen facilities 
• upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas 
• works to upgrade toilet facilities 
• works to improve disability access 
• improvements to assist in providing additional or better services to the community such as Meals for the Elderly and youth facilities 
• works to develop Community Centres as Social Hubs through the development of Community Cinemas, Youth Hubs and Community Libraries 
• essential maintenance works, repairs to roof, and so on 
• works to address safety concerns, including as a result of fire safety audits 

Making the announcement, Minister Humphreys said: 

“The local Community Centre is at the heart of our towns, villages and parishes all across this country. They come in many different shapes and sizes and are a place for people of all ages to meet up and socialise with friends, old and new. I want to support these great local facilities and that’s why I launched the new Community Centre Investment Fund earlier this year.” 

“The level of interest has been unprecedented under any scheme previously ran by the Department of Rural and Community Development. I am delighted today to announce over €12.5 million in funding for almost 600 projects nationwide.” 

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Councillor John Paul Feeley said, “I welcome the first round of funding announced today by the Department of Rural and Community Development which will benefit 15 community centres across County Cavan. This is the start of a programme to help support communities to improve their facilities.” 

Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Mr Tommy Ryan welcomed the funding saying “The funding announced today by Minister Humphreys is a testament to the hard work of our local community groups to put together strong applications to secure this funding. I would like to thank Minister Humphreys and her Department for their continued support to projects throughout the county.” 

List of the successful projects under Category 1 of the Community Centres Investment