Funding Programmes

A lifeboat in Co Kerry, a search and rescue vehicle in Co Mayo and a community ambulance for counties Westmeath and Roscommon are just some of the vital modes of transport to be funded under the CLÁR Programme.

The recently published 2022 Dormant Accounts Fund Annual Report revealed that a total of €54.6 million in funding was spent across ten Government departments last year.

Registration is now open and the deadline for applications is June 7th for community groups who wish to apply for funding though the Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF), a new fund which will see €15m invested this year in community buildings across the country.

While the closing date for receipt of applications to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has passed for this year, plan now for the next round of funding. Community-based websites qualify, as Cootehill has proven.

The LEADER Programme provides funding to support community-led rural development. Here we feature one of the thousands of successful projects, to give a flavour of the kind of ideas that win over the funding adjudicators.

- Announcement today by Ministers Humphreys and McConalogue - Overall LEADER allocation to increase by €50m following EU support - Funding will support rural communities and private enterprises in Covid-19 recovery - Funding welcomed by ILDN

Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, on November 12, announced funding of €51m from the Dormant Accounts Fund “to address disadvantage across the country”. The funding has increased. Four years ago, the spend was €28.5m.

In 1997, “Community” became a named function of a government department for the first time. It has remained in usage ever since. So how come Minister Heather Humphreys is responsible for two departments, one including Community? Allen Meagher reports: