News

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal TD, Charlie McConalogue, today confirmed over €1.8m for 18 Donegal Community Centre upgrades.

The announcement under the new Community Centre Investment Fund represents the largest ever capital investment in upgrading Community Centres and will see grants of between €25,000 to €300,000 provided to successful projects.

Commenting, the Minister said “This funding is hugely important for Donegal Community centres. Our community centres are the beating heart of our communities. Projects in Donegal under the announcement include Coole Cranford, Oaktree Business Park and Sports Complex and Letterkenny Community. Thanks to all the community groups for all you do for Donegal”.

The funding will be used to upgrade, renovate and refurbish Community Centres, Parish Halls, Scouts Clubs, Youth Hubs, Family Resources Centres and Sports Complexes across the country.

Examples of some of the types of work being supported include:

• Extensions to existing community centres
• The provision of meeting rooms, offices, counselling rooms and family rooms
• Energy Retrofitting/upgrades to Heating Systems
• Works to develop community centres as social hubs through the development of community cinemas, youth hubs and community libraries
• Works to upgrade kitchen facilities to enhance the delivery of Meals on Wheels
• Upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas
• Fire Safety Upgrades
• Essentials maintenance works, repairs to roof, re-wiring,etc
• Works to upgrade toilet facilities
• Works to improve disability access
• Replacement of windows and doors
• Installation of electric vehicle charging points

The full list of successful projects being announced today is available here: (one list of the full 278 projects)

The new Community Centre Investment Fund forms part of a range of measures being undertaken by the Department of Rural and Community Development to support the community and voluntary sector, and to empower thriving, sustainable communities across Ireland.

ENDS