Community Centres Investment Fund 2024 - Refurbishment Grant Opens 29 July

Posted on 17 Jul 2024

This capital fund of €20 million will provide funding for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres in both urban and rural areas.

Funding will be available under 2 Categories, with grants of between €10k and €100K available:

  • Category 1: Small scale projects/improvements to facilities - €10,000 to €25,000
  • Category 2 Larger scale projects - €25,001 to €100,000.

Match funding is required for both Categories: a minimum of 5% for Category 1 and a minimum of 10% for Category 2.

Funding is available for capital works such as: -

  • Projects which improve access for all to community facilities
  • Works to improve communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities
  • Improvements to buildings that improve the usability of the facility e.g. kitchen and toilet upgrades, lighting systems and stage areas
  • Improvements that will assist the applicant in providing additional or better services to the community for example additional facilities, repurposing existing space, kitchen upgrades to provide meals for the elderly and youth facilities
  • Improvements to facilities which are necessary to meet fire safety and building regulations
  • Retrofitting/energy upgrade projects that improve the usability or longevity of the facility and reduce energy bills
  • Essential maintenance work.

The Department hosted a number of online information events to support committees in preparing and submitting an application under this fund.

The first of these events was held on Tuesday, 25 June 2024. A recording of the session can be viewed here. The slide show for this event is available here. The second of these events can be viewed here.

Details of further events and how to register for them will be available here throughout July and August.

The “MyPobal” portal is now open for new applicants to register or for previous applicants to check their details. It can be accessed via this link .

A tutorial video to support you in registering can be found here on Youtube .

Support for new applicants with regard to Tax Clearance Certificates and Tax Clearance Access Numbers (TCAN’s), can be found here; Applications for unregistered voluntary bodies (revenue.ie)

The portal to submit an application will open on 29 July 2024. Please note, applicants need to register as 'users' on the portal in advance. The closing date for applications is 29 August 2024.

Please see an FAQ document here.

Application Guidelines - Community Centres Investment Fund 2024: Refurbishment Grant

A sample application form can be accessed below, please note this is for information purposes only and not to be used to apply, applications will only be accepted via the online portal.

Application Form - Community Centres Investment Fund 2024: Refurbishment Grant

Full details