Municipal District Community Fund Scheme in Ireland

Deadline: 14-Feb-25

The Cork County Council has launched the Municipal District Community Fund Scheme to supporting local communities across County Cork.

Financial assistance for community & voluntary groups and local organisations is available through the Community Fund Scheme.

Types of Schemes

• This scheme is administered by the 8 Municipal District Offices around County Cork and there are three separate funding streams depending on the nature and cost of your proposal.
  • Capital Fund Scheme: The aim of this scheme is to support community groups and local organisations in County Cork who wish to undertake infrastructural projects costing over €20,000 which will improve the range and/or quality of community-based facilities within their area.
  • Community Contracts: The Community Contract is an opportunity for Tidy Towns groups to work with Cork County Council on local works and projects – agreed with the Municipal District Officer and the local Area Engineer – that enhance the area in which the group is active.
  • Amenity Fund Scheme: The aim of this scheme is to provide support to local community groups and organisations by part-funding projects. The Council prefers to support groups that have the skills and capacity to implement proposals as well as groups that show local funding, time commitment or other useful contributions.

Funding Information

• Capital Fund Scheme
  • Minimum Capital Fund: The minimum contribution that Cork County Council can offer is €10,000
• Community Contracts
  • Minimum Community Contract: The minimum value of any contract will not be less than €1,500
  • Maximum Community Contract: The maximum value of any contract will not exceed €20,000
• Amenity Fund Scheme
  • Maximum Amenity Fund Contribution for projects costing €7,000 or less: €5,000 or 75% of the total project cost; whichever is the lesser
  • Maximum Amenity Fund Contribution for projects costing between €7,000 – €20,000: €5,000 or 50% of the cost of the project whoever is the greater.

Eligible Projects

• Capital Fund Scheme
  • New facilities for communities, local sporting organisations and clubs – particularly those that support youth, older people, and the development & support of sustainable community & voluntary effort
  • Improvements to existing facilities for communities, local sporting organisations and clubs – particularly those that support youth, older people, and the development & support of sustainable community & voluntary effort
• Amenity Fund
  • Tidy Towns Projects
  • Festivals
  • Improvements to local amenities (e.g. walkways, parks, open spaces, streetscapes)
  • Purchase of equipment
  • Building or improvement of existing facilities

Eligibility Criteria

• Capital Fund Scheme
  • Proposals must comply with all requirements in relation to Planning, Building Regulations, Health and Safety, and Fire Codes if applicable. Evidence of compliance must be submitted where applicable.
  • Applicants must generate an element of local match funding and must provide evidence of their financial standing. (For example, Bank or Credit Union statements).
  • Applicants must demonstrate their ability to manage any facility involved in their proposal.
  • Conditions that must be met before the Council can approve payment of its contribution to your proposal
    • The Council’s contribution will only be paid once your proposal is fully complete. All proposals/projects will be inspected by the Council once complete.
    • Paid invoices and receipts corresponding to the total project cost must be submitted before payment of the approved contribution can be made by the Council.
    • A Fund contribution cannot be paid where the applicant organisation is in arrears of rates.
• Community Contracts 
  • The level of support available under the Scheme will depend on a range of factors, including type of works/project, availability of other sources of funding, and the overall number of applications seeking funding under the Scheme.
  • Amounts awarded will be at the discretion of the Council and will take into consideration the qualifying works/project proposed and the group’s capacity to complete the proposed works/project.
  • The Council is conscious that new groups in particular may initially wish to enter into smaller contracts to establish their presence and demonstrate the value of the Scheme within their area.
  • Conditions that must be met before the Council can approve payment under the Community Contract Scheme
    • Works will be inspected by the Council periodically and must be certified throughout the duration of the contract by the Area Engineer.
    • Once the works are completed to the satisfaction of the Area Engineer the amount awarded will be paid.
    • Payments may be paid in instalments where appropriate.
• Amenity Fund Scheme
  • Conditions that must be met before the Council can approve payment of its contribution to your proposal
    • Proposals must comply with all requirements in relation to Planning, Building Regulations, Health and Safety, and Fire Codes if applicable. Evidence of compliance must be submitted where applicable.
    • Applicants must generate an element of local match funding and must provide evidence of their financial standing. (For example, Bank or Credit Union statements). Failure to produce this evidence may result in your application being returned to you unassessed.
    • Applicants must demonstrate their ability to manage any facility involved in their proposal.
    • Evidence of title to the site or premises and evidence that all necessary statutory and other approvals are in place must be submitted with the application. (For example, a copy of a lease agreement, title deeds etc.)

Ineligibility Criteria

• Ineligible Projects
  • Capital Fund Scheme
    • The purchase of land or facilities
    • Running costs of projects or facilities
    • Where other funding sources are clearly available
    • Servicing of debt
    • General appeals
  • Amenity Fund
    • Organisations that have received Amenity Funding from Cork County Council for the past 3 consecutive years.
    • Groups or organisations already receiving funding from HSE or Department of Education.
    • Proposed projects which have already received Cork County Council funding in the current year.
    • Project running costs (wages, electricity etc.)

For more information, visit Cork County Council.