Deadline: 29-Feb-2024
The Department of Rural and Community Development (“the Department”) funds the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which provides funding to support community groups across Ireland.
The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with funding to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities, and to purchase equipment for example tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment etc.
The scheme is designed to ensure local priorities are identified and met, so as to improve and enhance community facilities for all. It is administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area.
A portion of this fund has been ring-fenced to support Women’s Groups in the County at the direction of The Department.
This funding will help communities, community groups and committees, allowing them to continue to provide valuable services to the people in their area, and in the process strengthen the bonds that tie communities together.
Funding Information
- The Department has recommended that LCDCs ring-fence 30% funding to provide small capital grants of €1,000 or less. Ring-fencing funding at this level will allow a larger volume of those with limited resources to receive some funding. The programme can also fund or partially fund larger scale projects to address disadvantage.
Eligible Projects
- The following provides a non-exhaustive list of projects that could receive capital funding under the programme:
- Development/renovation of community centres
- Accessibility improvements
- Community amenities
- Development of youth clubs or facilities
- Development of sports/recreation facilities
- Improvements to town parks and common areas and spaces
- CCTV equipment
- Public realm improvements
- Streetscaping
- Development of play/recreation spaces
Eligibility Criteria
- Any not-for-profit community or voluntary group can apply.
- Commercial organisations and individuals are not eligible for funding.
- Only Women’s Groups can apply for the ring-fenced Women’s Group funding. The Department has issued the following guidelines in identifying Women’s Groups:
- There must be an appropriate organisational structure.
- The number of members of the group should be considered. If there are very few members then this should be considered along with their level of activity when deciding on eligibility.
- Groups are allowed to be affiliated with another parent association e.g. ICA, LGFA, Irish Girl Guides etc…
- If the group is a Shed, it should demonstrate that their ethos is consistent with the ethos of the Men’s Shed movement.
- Applications should relate to one or more key priority areas identified in their LCDC’s Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) in order to be eligible for consideration.
Criteria
- The Local Enhancement Programme will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities and purchase equipment.
- This is a capital funding scheme. The scheme does not provide funding for the pay or employment of staff, or towards current ‘operating’ costs such as utility bills, etc.
- The activity or project must benefit the local community and relate to the key priority areas identified in the LECP.
- The information supplied by the applicant group /organisation must be accurate and complete.
- Inaccurate or incomplete information may lead to disqualification and/or the repayment of any grant made.
- All information provided in respect of the application for a grant will be held electronically. The Department reserves the right to publish a list of all grants awarded on its website.
- The Freedom of Information Act applies to all records held by the Department and Local Authorities, including applications received and any additional correspondence related to the application.
- The application must be signed by the Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer of the organisation making the submission.
- It is the responsibility of each organisation to ensure that it has proper procedures and policies in place, including appropriate insurance, where relevant.
Ineligible
- The following expenditure is not eligible for funding:
- Any project not in keeping with the ethos of the Programme
- Employment costs
- Legal fees
- Project management fees
- Purchase of lands or buildings
- Feasibility studies
For more information, visit Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.