Community Recognition Fund 2024

Projects situated in areas that do not have high levels of new arrivals will not be deemed eligible.

Locations eligible for this funding include:

Ballyvaughan, Bellharbour, Bodyke, Bunratty, Clarecastle, Doolin, Ennis, Inch, Killaloe, Kilbaha, Kilkee, Kilmaley, Kilrush, Knockalisheen, Lahinch, Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna, Miltown Malbay, New Market-on-Fergus, Scariff, Shannon, Tulla.

Note: Additional towns and villages may be considered for inclusion at a later stage should numbers and locations change during 2024.

The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries. Projects to be funded will be capital in nature, deliver medium-long term benefits for the communities in which they are located, and be capable of being delivered over the course of 2025 and 2026. The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000 applying. Smaller projects cannot be artificially combined to meet the minimum threshold of €50,000 – while the 2023 scheme provided funding for small scale investment in clubs and communities (e.g. for small scale equipment), the focus of the 2024 scheme is on projects of greater scale and impact.

Types of projects eligible for funding

• Development, enhancement or refurbishment of community or cultural facilities including play areas, walkways, parks, community/sensory gardens, 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 (any vehicle funded must be in good condition and not more than 5 years old)
• 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

Expression of interest application process

Interested groups should consider the requirements of the project, possible costs involved and plan their application carefully.  Projects should be specific, time bound, show clear costings and planning throughout, and be achievable within the timeframes involved.  Any planning issues should be clearly identified. The funding allocation will be a competitive process and Expressions of Interest will be short-listed based on the details submitted in order to identify the projects to go forward to the Department of Rural and Community Development  as an overall Funding Proposal for County Clare. 

• Applications will be weighted in favour of “collaborating communities” where it is clear the community groups in a particular location are in support of the proposed project. This needs to be demonstrated through evidence of existing community plans and/or letters of support or other consultation with local community stakeholders. The Rural and Community Development Officers are available to support engagement at community level with community groups  in terms of putting forward the project that has the widest community impact and benefits all members of the community, in accordance with the scheme.
• Where more than one application is received from a location (town/village) in this application window, priority will be afforded to the project that has demonstrated in the application form that it has the relevant consents and permissions in place and is “shovel ready”, with a clear need and support for the project from across the community
• The project needs to be aligned with one of the six LECP High-Level Goals & specific objective/s  Links to Clare Local Economic and Community Plan 2024-2030 High-Level Goas [PDF, 4.4MB]

 Important things to note when submitting your Expression of Interest:

• Only those areas/communities that are hosting high levels of the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection or International Protection Applicants are eligible for this funding.
• Projects should be capital in nature
• All applications should include as much information as possible including details of any organisation or community group which you represent.
• All submissions are subject to the Data Protection Act (as amended) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (as amended) and the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (as amended).

How to apply

This scheme is closed for 2024