€251,000 for 13 community centres in Waterford
Minister Humphreys visits Clonea Power Old School Community Centre in 2023, who received funding in the latest round of the Community Centre Investment Fund.
Thirteen community organisations across Waterford will receive a share of €251,188 in grants under Category One of the 2024 Community Centre Investment Fund refurbishment grant as revealed by Fine Gael Senator and General Election candidate John Cummins.
Senator Cummins said: “I am absolutely delighted to have worked closely with many of the successful organisations to put forward a strong case to Minister Humphreys for their inclusion in category 1 of the 2024 Community Centre Investment Fund refurbishment grant. This particular tranche is for applications up to €25,000.
“I have no doubt this funding will be put to very good use by the many rural and urban community organisations that have been successful and will go along way towards future-proofing their facilities. Huge credit has to go to the individuals and groups responsible for putting forward strong applications and as a result I’m delighted to see 13 groups receiving funding today.”
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys said: “The funding announced today is another significant boost and demonstrates Fine Gael’s commitment to improving community facilities across our country. 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 wanted to support these great local facilities and that’s why I launched the Community Centre Investment Fund and the level of interest has been unprecedented under any scheme previously run by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The Community Centre Investment Fund was established in 2022 and targeted at existing community centres in need of refurbishment, while the 2023 version of the scheme was targeted at the construction of new community centres. 2024 has again targeted existing community centres with applications invited for smaller scale projects up to €25,000 and larger scale projects between €25,000 and €100,000.
Concluding his statement Senator Cummins said: “Today’s welcome announcement relates to category 1 applications only. I understand that work is still ongoing in relation to the assessment of Category 2 applications and funding will be announced in due course."
