19 Donegal community groups receive over €330,000 funding under new scheme

Multiple community centres throughout Donegal are set to benefit from a new scheme announced this week to deliver enhancement and refurbishment works. 

Nineteen projects in Donegal have been successful in receiving funding to assist local community groups, community halls and community centres and community associations with the various work they do on a voluntarily basis in their area.

The Community Centres Investment Fund 2024 was launched in June of this year, and aims to provide investment for upgrade and refurbishments works on existing community centres under two categories;

• Category 1 for minor works with grant aid up to €25,000
• Category 2 for larger works with grant aid up to €100,000

The successful community centre projects announced are from Category 1 applicants, with over €7.6million is being announced under this scheme for 399 community centres across the country.

Making the announcement, Taoiseach, Simon Harris, said: “I am delighted to make this announcement today which will see important upgrade works carried out in community centres in towns, villages and parishes across the country.

“These are small grants which will make a big difference. The funding we are announcing today will support local groups to improve kitchen and toilet facilities, replace old windows and doors, upgrade the heating system and improve disability access," he added. 

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The community groups awarded funding under this new scheme include: 

• Bluestack Foundation Community Centre has received €21,993 to fund roof repairs to increase the functionality of the
  centre.
• Coiste Forbartha Ceantair Mhín an Aoire has received €23,669 to fund the upgrade of their sound system.
• Coiste Forbartha Eadan Fhionn Fraoich has received €24,907 to fund the renovation of toilets, renew fire alarms,
  repair the roof, upgrade lighting and insulate attic space.
• Coiste Ionad Pobail Theilinn has received €23,290 to fund the installation of a kitchen and kitchenette
  behind the stage area and upgrade the unisex bathroom.
• Columban Hall Community has received €23,343 to fund the upgrade of the toilets which include new
  toilets, floor coverings, painting and tiling the room.
• Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair Teo has received €12,255 to fund installation of custom fire doors and energy efficient lighting.
• Oileán Árainn Mhór Community Centre has received €10,673 to fund a replacement door and kitchen appliances.
• Cully Hall Community Centre has received €25,000 to fund the installation of fire doors, tiling the floor and upgrading the sound system.
• Dunkineely Community Centre Association has received €24,700 to fund a disabled access toilet and refurbishment of
  existing toilets. 
• Fanad Community Centre has received €25,000 to fund upgrades to electrics and heating system, repair of roof, kitchen and shop refit, installation of storage, and painting to improve services. 
• Foresters Community Hall Company Limited By Guarantee has received €25,000 to fund refurbishments including flooring, suspended ceiling, tiling, upgrading bathroom and and works to roof.
• Glenswilly Community Hall has received €25,000 to fund improvement works.
• Ionad Pobail Cholmcille CTR Community Day Centre has received €8,026 to fund a commercial dishwasher, sanding and varnish of the floor and the painting of all interior walls.
• Mevagh Family Resource Centre has received €21,405 to fund installation of solar panels, painting, and the installation of fire doors.
• Muff Community Development Cooperative Society has received €19,447 to fund the upgrade of community hall including equipment, draft-proofing and energy efficiencies.
• Naomh Padriag GAA Community Centre has received €13,500 to fund the purchase of new furniture and kitchen
  equipment.
• The Niall Mór Community and Enterprise Centre has received €15,671 to fund improvements including kitchen and energy upgrades, and painting internally.
• Raphoe Community in Action has received €10,837 to fund restoration of windows to improve the energy
  efficiency of the facility.
• Leghawny Community Centre has received €10,735 to fund a new gas cooker and oven, installation of 3 new UPVC windows, and fitting of new wardrobe units.

In total, community groups throughout Donegal have received €334,451. Averaging, €17,602.68 per organisation. 

Minister Humphreys also went on the record to express her delight with this news, “I introduced the Community Centre Investment Fund in 2022. My ambition was to develop a fund to support our local community centres in the same way that the Sports Capital Programme supports upgrade and improvement works at our local sports facilities.

“They are places for people to meet up locally and engage in a wide range of activities whether it’s meals for the elderly, fitness classes, indoor soccer, yoga or even providing a space for the local drama group to perform – the community centre is a home for everybody.

“This funding is about supporting local groups to carry out vital upgrade works as well as enhancing the services and amenities they can provide to persons of all ages in their community,” she added. 

Successful projects under Category 2 will be announced in the coming months.