Almost €135K to improve community facilities in Cavan

Government Release

Almost €135,000 has been allocated to support community groups in County Cavan impacted by COVID-19; while almost €133,000 has been awarded to groups in County Monaghan.

The money was confirmed this morning under the €4.5M 2021 Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). It aims to provide small grants to assist in the re-opening of facilities such as community centres, men’s and women’s sheds, parish halls and youth centres.

The grants will range from a few hundred euro up to €10,000, however, exceptions will be made depending on the application.

The funding is to help groups and clubs get back on their feet and may be used to carry out necessary renovations and repairs or to purchase equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies, training equipment and so on.

The Community Enhancement Programme, which to date has supported over 8,000 projects, places a focus on supporting groups in disadvantaged areas.

As the grants are relatively small, this programme may appeal to groups that are not eligible for the €10 million Covid Stability Fund, which was launched last week.

Announcing the funding today, Minister Heather Humphreys said: “This funding is about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs, which are the lifeblood of our communities in Cavan and across the country.

“As we come out of Covid-19, so many of these organisations will incur specific costs relating to the re-opening of their facilities.

“This could range from purchasing a new set of tables and chairs to repairing a leak in the roof or renovating the kitchen facility.

“These grants may be small in nature. But I know they will go a long way in helping thousands of great community organisations and clubs the length and breadth of the country," said the Cavan Monaghan TD.

Interested groups are being urged to get in touch with their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) that administers the programme in their area.

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith also welcomed the funding for the constituency.

“Such facilities play a critical role in local communities and they have had ongoing costs without being able to raise funds through hosting events and activities,” he said.

The CEP was launched for the first time in 2018 by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Between 2018 and the end of 2020, the CEP has funded over 8,000 projects across the country.

Each LCDC will set its own closing dates for the scheme to best suit its area. The Department will require that all closing dates are no later than July 16, 2021. Groups should check with their LCDC for further details.