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Local Enhancement Programme Capital Funding (Ireland)

Deadline: 21-Feb-25

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 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.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2025 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. Facilities improvement works may also include, but are not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and; improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.

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.
Eligible Costs
  • 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
    • Improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs
    • Purchase of equipment
    • Purchase of laptops, tablets
    • Maintenance of premises, including painting and repairs
    • Capital work to increase biodiversity, or to reduce the carbon footprint of a facility
    • Cleaning equipment
Ineligible Costs
  • The following expenditure is not eligible for capital 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
    • Private or commercial operations
    • Costs which are being paid for by another funder or department
    • Energy costs (electricity costs, refuse charges, heating charges)
    • Operating costs (existing rental/lease costs, insurance bills)
    • Website maintenance
    • Audit & accountancy fees
Eligibility Criteria
  • Any not-for-profit community or voluntary group can apply.
  • Commercial organisations and individuals are not eligible for funding.
Selection Criteria
  • Applications will be evaluated by the LCDC to ensure eligibility and that they are targeted at addressing disadvantage as identified in its LECP. Projects must be in keeping with the ethos of the programme, which is to provide funding to communities across Ireland to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas.
  • Projects may also be judged having regard to how they:
    • Support local groups and clubs, which serve their communities;
    • Increase the number of people that can be supported by the group, including through accessibility improvements, new community integration measures or safety improvements;
    • Invest to increase or extend the use of the facility, for example, to voluntary and community groups;
    • Reduce the annual running cost of a facility;
    • Have a positive impact on the environment, for example, a reduction in energy consumption;
    • Demonstrate collaboration with the local authority or other relevant bodies in the catchment area;
    • Support the creation of a sense of place within the community including through the enhancement of the built environment;
    • Address health and safety issues; and/or,
    • Invest in technology which will be accessed by individuals and communities that are impacted by disadvantage.
    • Projects may also be judged having regard to additional criteria deemed appropriate by the LCDC which demonstrate the added value of the project or element of a project in suitably addressing the programme’s aims in each Local Authority administrative area.
  • Eligible applicants must:
    • Identify the priority target group(s) the grant relates to
    • Identify the theme/LECP objective the project will support
  • Relevant groups as listed below must be registered with the Public Participation Network (PPN) in order to qualify for funding:
    • Groups working in the areas of Community, local development, Sports, Arts, Residents Associations, Social groups, etc;
    • Social Inclusion groups working with people experiencing disadvantage and inequality and;
    • Groups with a focus on protecting the environment and sustainability.

For more information, visit Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.