Community Recognition Fund 2024
The Community Recognition Fund was introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 Scheme, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in cities, towns and villages nationwide. Based on the continued impacts on communities throughout the country and the need to support these communities in welcoming new arrivals, a further €50 million is being provided under the Community Recognition Fund 2024.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has been allocated €765,487 by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) to deliver projects over 2025 and 2026, with funding allocated across 3 application windows as outlined in the table below:
Application Window 1
Up to 31st May 2024
Application Window 2
1st August to 30th September 2024
Application Window 3
1st January 2025 to 31st January 2025
Funding
Funding is targeted to invest in those communities, villages and towns where the highest level of new arrivals are located and where a clear need for investment is identified. Projects located in areas that do not have high levels of new arrivals will not be deemed eligible for funding.
Projects to be funded will be capital in nature and shall deliver medium-long term benefits for the communities in which they are located. Projects relating to ongoing operational/running costs are not eligible for funding. The delivery of the project must be completed over the course of 2025 and 2026. The Council is required to reserve a minimum of 20% for the third application window to respond to changing circumstances in communities.
The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000 applying to any single project. Smaller projects cannot be artificially combined to meet the minimum threshold of €50,000. The 2023 Community Recognition Fund provided funding for small scale investment in communities, however the focus of the 2024 Scheme is on capital projects of greater scale and impact.
Local authorities have scope to invest the funding based on local needs, as identified through a “bottom-up” approach based on community engagement.
The type of projects eligible for funding under the Community Recognition Fund 2024 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;
- 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.
- 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 Department of Rural and Community Development has published the full details of the scheme at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/e626a-community-recognition-fund-2023/
Calls for funding will be promoted through the Council’s communications platforms. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
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