€20 mill up for grabs for 'shovel ready' community hubs in Laois

A €20 million fund can help bridge a gap between the haves and have-nots when it comes to centres for community use in Laois, according to sean Fleming TD.

The Minister of State welcomed the Government's decision to establish the Community Centres Investment Fund for 'shovel ready projects'.

Department of Rural and Community Affairs said that for the first time, funding of at least €1 million will be invested in  projects which in areas that currently lack community facilities.

The news comes just in the same month as the Laois community of Clough gave away €100,000 trying to raise funds for a community hub in the village.

Minister Fleming believes such project can be supported by the new fund.

"This is a very welcome development as there are a number of locations in Co. Laois without a community centre that would benefit from this fund.

"Some of our towns in the county have no community centre and in badly need of support to build a new community centre.

"Many of our smaller towns and villages throughout the county have community centres in their area and substantial funding has been provided in recent times to renovate and upgrade many of these community centres.

"There clearly is a gap across the country and in some of the towns in Laois," he said.

The TD asked people in areas without centres to come together and work with Laois County Council in terms of progressing a new community centre for their area.  He also called on Laois County Council to contact those areas so that applications can be made to the Department of Rural and Community Affairs from Laois.

"This is an opportunity that should not be let pass and Laois needs to be to the forefront with some good applications," said the Fianna Fáil Minister of State.

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A Department statement said New Builds Measure will make grant funding of at least €1 million available per project.
However, the projects must have all the necessary permissions and consents in place (e.g. planning consent) and be located on a green/brown field site

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It said the fund will provide 90% of the total project value to a maximum of €6 million with at least 10% to be provided in matching contributions. A minimum of 5% of the matching contributions element must be in cash.

It said funding for renovations or refurbishment of existing community centres is not eligible but can still be accessed through the department’s CLÁR Programme, Town and Village Renewal Scheme or LEADER Programme.

An application form for the 2023 Community Centres Investment Fund can be requested from ccif@drcd.gov.ie
The deadline for the receipt of applications is 12 noon on 3 July 2023. Application guidelines can be found HERE