The Minister for Rural & Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, together with her colleague Minister Joe O’Brien TD, have announced a further €50 million in national funding under the Community Recognition Fund to deliver projects over 2025 and 2026.
The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced last year to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.
Wicklow County Council has been allocated €1,584,550 under the 2024 Community Recognition Fund.
The Community Recognition Fund 2024 aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities for the entire community in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from the Ukraine and other countries.
The scheme details set out that only areas which have high levels of new arrivals will be deemed eligible for this scheme.
Wicklow County Council is seeking expressions of interest for project proposals from community groups in the areas where there are large numbers of citizens from other countries living. Projects to be funded will be capital in nature, deliver medium to long term benefits for the communities in which they are located, and be capable of being delivered over the course of 2025 to 2026.
Registration is available by clicking here.
Projects that will be funded include:
- Development, enhancement or refurbishment of community or cultural facilities including play areas, walkways, parks, community/sensory gardens, allotments, and recreational areas;
- Development, enhancement or refurbishment of local club and sports facilities including facilities such as community swimming pools, changing rooms, toilets, digital aids such as score / information boards etc.;
- Enhancement to school/parish facilities which are open to use by all of the community after school hours;
- Purchase of equipment for local clubs, festivals, community events and organisations e.g. music, arts or sports equipment;
- Transport infrastructure such as the purchase of community vehicles, bus shelters and attendant information boards; (any vehicle funded must be in good condition and not more than 5 years old)
- Projects that help address dereliction and/or wider local economic and community development objectives;
- Purchase and refurbishment of vacant or derelict buildings for community use where a clear need is identified.
- Purchase of land and associated works for the development of community facilities such as play areas/ MUGAs or town parks/ community gardens, recreational areas etc. (purchases must only be administered by the local authority).
An information session will be held online on 18th April 2024 at 5.30pm . Registration is available by clicking here.
The application window is now open for applications. Applications will be accepted up to Friday, 10th May 2024, at 4pm.
Please find links below to the following documentation:
EOI Form 2024 Community Recognition Fund
