Community Recognition Fund 2024

The Community Recognition Fund 2024 was launched by the Minister of Rural & Community Development, Heather Humphries TD on Friday 15th March, 2024.

This Fund aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants.Projects situated in towns and villages that do not have high levels of new arrivals will not be deemed eligible.

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.

€50 million is available nationally under the Fund and this is allocated between each Local Authority based on the number of new arrivals located there. On this basis, the allocation to County Donegal is €3,391,917.

The scheme is being administered on behalf of the Donegal County Council by the Donegal Local Community Development Committees (LCDC)

Local Authorities have scope to invest the funding based on their own distinct local needs as identified through a “bottom-up” approach based on the community engagement.

However, 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.
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 buildings and/or the purchase of land for the development of 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)

Rates

The scheme will provide large capital grants ranging from €50,000 to a maximum of €500,000 with a requirement that a minimum spend of 50% of the allocation is incurred by end of 2025 with projects fully complete by 4^th September 2026.

Applications in excess of €200,000 will require a completed business case. 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.

Application Process

Interested groups should consider the requirements of the project, possible costs involved and plan their application carefully. The funding will be a competitive process and where numerous applications come from areas that are identified as high need, groups should endeavour to answer all parts of the application form fully. Projects should be specific, timebound, show clear costings, a clear procurement process and planning throughout, and be achievable within the timeframes involved. Any planning issues should be clearly identified.

Important things to note in submitting your application:

Only those areas/communities that are hosting high levels of the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection or International Protection Applicants are eligible for this funding.
All applications should include as much information as possible including details of any organisation or community group which you represent.
This funding cannot be used to fund or co-fund any scheme operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development or any other Government Department or as a co-funding source for any project funded under CRF 2023.
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:

Your group must submit a completed Community Recognition Fund Application Form to Donegal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) with the required supporting documentation to the following address:

Community Recognition Fund

Community Development Division

Donegal County Council

Station Island

Lifford

F93 X7PK

Co Donegal

Applications can also be emailed, with supporting documentation, to [email protected]; but must be received by the closing date and deadline

Your group must submit a completed Community Recognition Fund 2024 Application Form to Donegal Local Development Committee (LCDC) with the required supporting documentation to the following address:

Community Recognition Fund

Community Development

Donegal County Council

Station Island

Lifford

F93 X7PK

Co Donegal

Applications can also be emailed, with supporting documentation, to [email protected]; but must be received by the closing date and deadline.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 3.00 pm on Thursday, 18^thJuly 2024.

Applications received after this time will not be considered.

Application Forms, Scheme and Schedules:

Community Recognition Fund 2024 Application Form