The funding is available to support the following:
• Works to improve communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities
• Energy retrofitting, new windows / doors / heating systems
• Upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas
• Works to address safety concerns, including as a result of fire safety audits
• Works to improve disability access
• Improvements to assist in providing additional or better services to the community such as Meals for the Elderly & youth facilities
• Works to develop Community Centres as Social Hubs through the development of Community Cinemas, Youth Hubs and Community Libraries
• Essential maintenance works, repairs to roof, etc.
Announcing the fund, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD said: "Community Centres are at the heart of every community in Ireland, rural and urban.
"We need places for people to meet up, to play sport and engage in all sorts of activities whether it is meals for the elderly, indoor soccer or basketball, or providing a space for the local dramatic society to perform.
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"This new fund is about supporting them 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.
"I am encouraging all community groups to look at this fund and think about how they can use it to improve their own local parish hall or community centre. Do you need new windows or doors? Does the stage or sound system need to be upgraded? Could you look at developing space for a Youth Hub or Community Cinema?
"Community Centres are all about bringing people together in a locality. As Minister, I want to ensure Community Centres continue to be at the heart of our local parishes, towns and villages."
There will be a two-stage application process with applicants asked to register their organisation in advance of the formal application process going live.
Registration will open on Tuesday, 03 May 2022, applicants need to register as 'users' on the portal in advance of the application process opening on Tuesday, 07 June 2022. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 14 July 2022.
The Department will be hosting a number of online information events in May and June 2022 to provide guidance in relation to the application process and details will be released in due course.
Community Groups are urged to familiarise themselves with the application process and criteria well in advance of submitting their application.
Welcoming the funding, Minister of State Joe O'Brien TD added: "The newly announced Community Centres Investment Fund, will play a large part in supporting the development of Community Centres throughout the country both in rural and urban areas, allowing people to engage with their communities and the supports available. That is why I am committed to supporting the Community & Voluntary sector to maximise its impact in communities throughout Ireland."
