Clare County Council launches two major funding initiatives for community groups and organisations in County Clare

Clare County Council’s Local Area Grant Scheme 2023, together with the Community Support Fund 2022 under the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), will see a combined funding of €728,325 allocated to County Clare, providing significant financial support and benefit to groups and organisations throughout the county. 

Welcoming the launch of both schemes the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Tony O’Brien, noted that “in these times of financial uncertainty it is hugely beneficial to be able to provide this level of funding support and assistance to the various groups and organisations that are the lifeblood of communities across the county”.

Acknowledging the launch of Clare County Council’s Local Area Grant Scheme and the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Community Support Fund, the Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling, welcomed the timing of these funding supports for community groups and organisations in County Clare, which, he said, “will provide them with a much-needed injection of funds allowing them to meet their ongoing operational costs and plan for projects and initiatives to improve the quality of life for communities in Clare.”

 

Clare Local Area Grant Scheme 2023

The Clare Local Area Grant Scheme, previously known as the Community Support Scheme, is a Council-led grant scheme that provides funding for local communities to assist them with various projects that fall within the relevant categories of the scheme. In addition to local community projects, the scheme also includes funding to support artists and organisations who stimulate public interest in, promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of, or improve standards in the arts.

For 2023, applications are being invited under 9 separate grant support categories as follows:

1. Support Scheme for Public Realm Initiatives and Amenity Projects (Max Grant €2,000)

Applications are invited from community groups for small-scale projects that will enhance the appearance of outdoor public amenity areas and public spaces. See scheme guidelines for further details.

2. Support Scheme for Maintenance of Open Spaces in Private Housing Developments

Applications will be accepted from private resident associations/groups for funding towards grass-cutting and landscaping works within private housing estates. See scheme guidelines for further details.

3. Support Scheme for Community Playgrounds (Max Grant €3,000)

Applications are invited from Community Playground Committees for funding to assist them in the operation of community playgrounds. See scheme guidelines for further details.

4. Support Scheme for Burial Ground Maintenance and Provision (Max Grant €600 for maintenance and €8,000 for provision of extension)

Applications are invited from community groups to assist them in the upkeep of burial grounds, e.g. grass-cutting costs.

5. Support Scheme for the Best Kept Local Authority Estate (Max Grant €500)

Applications are invited from social housing residents’ associations for funding to assist with the upkeep and appearance of their estate.

6. Support Scheme for the Arts

Applications are invited from artists and arts organisations for funding for arts events and projects/organisational support. See scheme guidelines for further details.

7. Support Scheme for the Irish Language (Max Grant €800)

Applications are invited from community groups for exhibitions, projects or other events which stimulate public interest in the Irish language, provide a knowledge, appreciation and practice of the Irish language or improve the standard of the Irish language.

8. Support Scheme for Tourism Marketing and Promotion

Applications are invited from new and established Tourism Networks for projects that market and promote Clare as a destination. See scheme guidelines for further details.

9. Support Scheme for Sustainable Tourism

Applications are invited from community-based Tourism Operator Networks for projects that contribute to the continuous improvement in sustainable tourism practices.

Online applications can be made from 9:00am on Friday, 13th January, 2023.

The online application system and scheme guidelines can be accessed from the Clare County Council website at: https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/grants/clarelocalareagrantscheme/

The closing date for submission of online applications is 5:00pm on Friday, 3rd February, 2023.

Enquiries can be made by email to: clags@clarecoco.ie

 

Community Support Fund 2022

The Community Support Fund 2022, under the Community Enhancement Programme funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, is focused on supporting groups in disadvantaged areas with a provision of €10 million being made available in grant funding nationally towards energy and running costs and enhancing the facilities available to communities. The Community Support Fund is open to groups and organisations in County Clare seeking assistance towards their energy/ operating costs, and capital funding towards repairs and improvements to their facilities. There is also a support fund for Women’s Shed groups.

Welcoming the funding, the Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling, acknowledged that “the Community Enhancement Programme has a focus on supporting groups in disadvantaged areas and is aimed at addressing disadvantage as identified in the Clare Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP). Delivered locally by the Clare Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), this programme allows flexibility for each LCDC to decide on local priorities in administering the fund.”

Chairperson of the Clare LCDC, Paul Patton (Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board), speaking about the funding, highlighted that “the 2022 Programme provides vital support to community groups in order to help them with their day-to-day running costs and improve their facilities, especially at this time with mounting energy costs and other challenges that they are facing”. The Community Support Fund supports small-scale funding for projects which range from assistance with operational and energy costs to larger-scale projects including necessary improvements or repairs to their facilities. Mr Patton acknowledged that this is a significant funding scheme and encouraged community groups and organisations to avail of the funding this year.

Bernadette Haugh, Chief Officer of the Clare LCDC, stated that “this year’s funding is a welcome addition to help support community groups and organisations to carry out their day-to-day activities and improve existing facilities to allow them to continue the invaluable work they do in their respective communities across the county”.

The 2022 round of funding allocated to Clare by the Department of Rural and Community Development is €301,325.

Online applications can be made from 9:00am on Friday, 13th January, 2023.

The closing date for submission of online applications under the Community Support Fund is 4:00pm on Friday, 31st March, 2023, and further details can be found at: https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/grants/communityenhancement

Enquiries can be made by email to: cep@clarecoco.ie or by telephone: 065-6846498.

 

Walk-in information clinics

In order to support community groups/organisations who may wish to apply for either funding scheme, the following walk-in information clinics will be held across the county at the following locations and times:

Date	Location	Time
Tuesday, 17th January	Pavilion Community Hall, Lisdoonvarna	10.00am – 1.00pm
	Scariff MD Office, Scariff	10.00am – 1.00pm
	Corofin Community Hall, Corofin	2.00pm – 5.00pm
	Cnoc na Gaoithe, Comhaltas Cultural Centre, Tulla	2.00pm – 5.00pm
Thursday, 19th January	Treacy’s Oakwood Arms Hotel,  Shannon	10.00am – 1.00pm
	Kilrush Hub, Kilrush	10.00am – 1.00pm
	Buttermarket Civic Room, Ennis	2.00pm – 5.00pm
	Lissycasey Community Hall, Lissycasey	2.00pm – 5.00pm

Caption:

Clare County Council has launched two grant schemes aimed at providing funding opportunities to community groups and local organisations throughout County Clare, the Clare Local Area Grant Scheme 2023 and the Community Support Fund 2022. Pictured at Áras Contae an Chláir for the launch of the grant schemes were (l-r): Paul Patton, Chairperson of the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC); Kathy Coleman, Rural Development Directorate, Clare County Council; Brendan Boyce, Rural Development Directorate, Clare County Council; Cllr Tony O’Brien, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council; Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, Clare County Council; Bernadette Haugh, Chief Officer, Clare LCDC; and Cllr PJ Ryan, Chairperson of the Working Group for the Action Plan for Rural Ireland. Photo: Eamon Ward.

Page last reviewed: 17/01/23

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