Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys unveils €150 million package of supports for rural communities
- New €15 million fund to upgrade and refurbish community centres
- Major focus on Remote Working through initiatives such as Connected Hubs and Town and Village Renewal Scheme
- Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to tackle vacancy and dereliction
- Significant investment in our walkways, trails, rivers and lakes under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Fund
- Over 300 stakeholders attend special online webinar to hear full details of rural funding schemes
- Unprecedented Investment underpinned by the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First Policies
- Calendar of all Funding Schemes published to allow Community Groups to plan ahead
- Focus on ambitious projects which make a lasting impact to Communities
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, recently outlined a package of over €150 million designed to transform rural towns, villages and communities throughout 2022.
New Community Centre Fund
This new capital Fund will invest €15 million in the upgrade and refurbishment of community buildings across the country so that thousands of people of all ages can benefit. Under the Fund groups and organisations based in both rural and urban communities can apply for grants ranging from €10,000 to €300,000.
Application forms will be available online in the coming weeks
Announcing the new initiative, Minister Humphreys said:
“If the Pandemic taught us one thing, it’s that we all have discovered the true meaning of ‘community’.
“That’s why I am delighted today to announce the new ‘Community Centres Investment Fund 2022.
“I am making available €15 million which will support the refurbishment and upgrade of community buildings across the country.
“Does your local Community Centre or Parish Hall need an upgrade or facelift?
Does your local community need financial support to carry out fire safety or other necessary repair works? Then this Fund is designed to support you.
“The new Fund will provide grants for small and large-scale projects and help us to provide focal points for communities as they come back together. I will publish details on how local community groups can apply for this funding later this month”
Focus for 2022
- Regeneration projects in rural areas that focus on economic growth, combat dereliction and breathe new life into town centres. The ‘Boyle 2040 Project’ was given as a good example of the type of project that could be replicated. Boyle 2040 was previously allocated €4.3 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The project shows how regeneration funding can be accessed if a locally driven tailored plan is developed;
- Remote Working and connectivity. This will include further developing the Connected Hubs Network for remote working, adding to the existing 900 free WiFi4EU hotspots around the country, bringing more publicly accessible Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) online.
- Outdoor Amenities. A continued focus on investing in our unique amenities such as our walkways, trails, lakes, mountains, blueways and greenways. Under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, there will be unprecedented investment in outdoor tourism – supporting activities such as kayaking, cycling, mountaineering, surfing and paragliding.
- Projects that help communities to bounce back from the pandemic by providing focal points for community activities. This will be done under the likes of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the new Community Centre Investment Fund.
“The capital funding programmes outlined today, including the newly announced Community Centres Investment Fund, are complemented by a suite of ongoing and planned current funded programmes which play a large part in supporting those living in communities, and in many cases ensuring that it is possible for people to engage with these capital supports. There is little point in having great infrastructure if there are not the people using those facilities to deliver the many community & voluntary programmes and schemes across the country. That is why I am committed to supporting the Community & Voluntary sector to maximise its impact in communities throughout Ireland.”
Timetable for rural and community investment programmes
| Rural Development Schemes | ||
| 2022 Open | 2022 Closing | |
| Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)
Supports large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas.
More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/05bfe-rural-regeneration-and-development-fund/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=rural-regeneration-and-development
|
Category 1 – currently open (Large-scale capital projects which are ready to commence on the date of application).
Category 2 – To open in August (Seed capital funding for strategic, large-scale projects) |
Closes on 29th April
Category 2, closes in Q 4 |
| Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais (CLÁR)
Provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas.
More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=small-scale-rural-projects-clar |
Opened 24th February |
Measure 1 & Measure 3, close on 6th May
Measure 2, closes on 8th April |
| Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS)
Provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure. (Adventure Tourism type projects, Blueways, Walking Trails, Boardwalks, etc)
More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d14e1-outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme |
Opened 18th February |
Measure 1 & Project Development Measure to close on 19th April
Measure 2 & Measure 3 to close on 25th May |
| Town and Village Renewal Scheme Connected Hubs Call
Development of remote working facilities joining the National Connected Hubs Network
More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/16b47-connected-hubs-fund/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=connected-hubs-fund |
Opened 21st February |
Closes on 4th April |
| Local Improvement Scheme
Provides funding to help local authorities carry out improvement works on private and non-publicly maintained roads
More information available at |
Allocations to Local Authorities in March |
Managed by Local Authorities |
| Town and Village Renewal Scheme – Streetscapes
Support the enhancement of streetscapes and shopfronts
Information available when launched |
Scheduled to open end of March |
Managed by Local Authorities in consultation with communities, town teams and businesses |
| Town and Village Renewal
Scheme
Designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages. (Regeneration of old buildings, development of town parks, etc)
More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/01125e-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/ |
Scheduled to open in April |
Closes end of June |
|
Social Enterprise Schemes |
||
| 2022 Open | 2022 Closing | |
| Dormant Accounts Fund Social Enterprise – Capital Supports
Provides capital grants for the scaling up of social Enterprises
More information on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/624c74-social-enterprise/#funding-and-supports-for-social-enterprises |
Scheduled to open in early May |
Closes in late June |
|
Community Schemes |
||
| 2022 Open | 2022 Closing | |
| Community Centres Investment
Fund
An annual capital grants programme for the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community centres.
More information on launch |
Scheduled to open in March |
Category 1 closes on 30th June
Category 2 & 3 close on 31st July |
| Empowering Communities Fund
A new targeted scheme to address area based disadvantage
More information on launch |
Scheduled to open end April |
|
| Community Activities Fund
Small scale grants to assist community groups
More information on launch |
Operated by LCDCs |
Closing dates vary – contact your LCDC |