Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has announced funding of over €1 million under the 2024 Community Centre Investment Fund to be spread across 12 community centres/organisations in County Kilkenny.
The big winners locally were; Dunnamaggin Development Group, Hugginstown District & Community Centre and Inistioge Community Council who received €100,000 apiece out of a total pot of €1,025,889. - COMPLETE LOCAL LIST BELOW
Each funding allocation will provide essential supports to local groups in order to carry out works which will improve their ability to function effectively and safely for service users.
The local funding is part of of an overall €26.1 million allocation nationally, which will deliver enhancement and refurbishment works on 369 community centres. In excess of €109 million has already been approved under the fund.
The successful community centre projects announced will receive capital grants of up to €100,000 under category two of the fund. This builds on the recent approval in November of over €7.8 million for small scale refurbishment works of up to €25,000 on over 400 centres under category one.
Fianna Fáil TDs for Carlow-Kilkenny, Peter 'Chap' Cleere and John McGuinness both warmly welcomed the funding on Tuesday morning.
"This will be a massive boost to the area and assist community activities to take place effectively," Deputy Cleere said.
Meanwhile, Leas Cheann Comhairle and Kilkenny based TD John McGuinness claimed the funding is 'needed' and will 'benefit' so many community halls in both Kilkenny and Carlow.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, stated: “Community Centres are the lifeblood of our communities. They play host to some of our most important occasions, in good times and in bad.
"Again in recent weeks we have seen the importance of these centres for their local communities as many of them became emergency hubs in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn," the Minister said.
"Whatever improvement works are being completed, we can be sure that this funding is being targeted at the heart of communities, both rural and urban, and the results of these works will see our community facilities being more sustainable, enjoyable and accessible places," he concluded.
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