Our Rural Future: Community Recognition Fund 2024
On 15th March 2024, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys and Minister of State Joe O’Brien, announced details of a €50 million Community Recognition Fund. The allocation for County Kildare is €830,007. This major initiative aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities for the entire community in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.
The scheme details set out that only areas which have high levels of new arrivals will be deemed eligible for this scheme. In Kildare, some of the areas with the highest numbers of people from Ukraine and from other countries are Newbridge, Monasterevin, Celbridge, Leixlip, Athy, Naas, Clane and Maynooth.
Kildare County Council is seeking expressions of interest for large scale project proposals in the areas listed above or areas where there are large numbers of citizens from other countries living. The possible types of projects that can be funded under the scheme include:
- development, enhancement or refurbishment of community or cultural facilities including play areas, walkways, parks, community/sensory gardens including communication boards, allotments, and recreational areas;
- development, enhancement or refurbishment of local club and sports facilities including facilities such as community swimming pools, changing rooms, toilets, digital aids such as score / information boards etc.
- enhancement to school/parish facilities which are open to use by all of the community after school hours;
- purchase of equipment for local clubs, festivals, community events and organisations e.g. music, arts or sports equipment;
- transport infrastructure such as the purchase of community vehicles, bus shelters and attendant information boards;
- projects that help address dereliction and/or wider local economic and community development objectives;
- purchase and refurbishment of vacant or derelict buildings for community use where a clear need is identified.
- Purchase of land and associated works for the development of community facilities such as play areas/ MUGAs or town parks/ community gardens, recreational areas etc. (purchases must only be administered by the local authority).
The expression of interest process will be competitive and applications from areas that have the highest number of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries will be eligible. In addition, demonstration of local needs and gaps in service provision will be considered when selecting projects. The successful projects will be capital in nature, will address needs in their areas and will deliver medium-long term benefits for the entire community.
Interested groups should consider their respective project requirements, projected costs, planning dependencies, and demonstrate how their project will benefit the community. Projects must be achievable within the allowed timeframes.
Other details of the Scheme:
- A minimum spend of 50% of the expenditure must be incurred by 10th October 2025.
- All projects must be fully completed with funding drawn down by 9th October 2026.
- The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 up to a maximum of €500,000.
- The funding should not be used to fund or co-fund existing financial commitments from any Government Scheme.
- National Procurement Guidelines and DPER Circular 13/2014 must be adhered to in respect of each project funded under the funding proposal, and confirmation of this will form part the Department’s control regime for the Fund.
To be considered under this fund, an expression of interest form must be completed for the proposed project and submitted to: communityfund@kildarecoco.ie by Friday, 3rd May 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
See Expression of Interest form and scheme details below.