Expressions of Interest are invited for funding under the Community Recognition Fund 2024

The Community Recognition Fund 2024 is specifically targeted at projects that are located in cities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants including towns identified for the rapid build homes programme and where there is a clear need for investment identified.

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

Projects to be funded will be large scale capital projects and applicants should be able to demonstrate that a proposed project can deliver medium-long term benefits for the communities in which they are located, and are 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.

The type of projects eligible for funding are:

• 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
• 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.

Expressions of Interest received will be assessed based on the priorities as contained in the Scheme Outline.

Applicants should ensure that the necessary consents/permissions are in place and that detailed costed proposals including quotations are submitted with the Expression of Interest.

Selection of the projects to be submitted to the Department for funding consideration will be by means of a competitive process. Due to the limited availability of funds, a process to shortlist projects will be implemented, meaning not all submitted projects will go forward as part of the funding proposal being submitted to the Department of Rural & Community Development.

Community groups are invited to engage with the Council’s Rural & Community Development Officer for their area in advance of submitting an Expression of Interest.

Contact details for the local Rural & Community Development Officer is available on: www.clarecoco.ie/your-council/contact-the-council/directory/rural-and-community-dev-dept/rural-dev-officers/

Expressions of Interest can be submitted online using the following link: www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/grants/communityrecognitionfund

The closing date for receipt of Expressions of Interest is 4pm Thursday, 9th May 2024

Drop-In Information Clinics

In order to support Communities who may wish to apply for funding for projects in the above locations, the Council’s Rural Team will be facilitating the following drop-in information clinics at the following locations and times.

• Monday, 22nd April 2024
  • Pavilion Community Hall, Lisdoonvarna 12.00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Kilkee Library Cultúrlann Sweeney Kilkee 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, 23rd April 2024
• • Scariff Municipal District Council Area Office, Scariff 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  • Treacys Oakwood Hotel, Shannon 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday 24th April 2024
  • Buttermarket Civic Room, Ennis 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Page last reviewed: 17/04/24

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