Minister Calleary Announces Over €26 Million for Improvement and Refurbishment Works on 369 Community Centres Nationwide

  • 369 community centres to receive funding of up to €100,000.
  • Works include building renovations, enhanced amenities, accessibility measures and energy upgrades to help build resilience of communities.
  • Community Centre Investment Fund to become a permanent rolling fund to upgrade, refurbish and build local community centres.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has today (March 11th, 2025) announced funding of €26.1 million under the 2024 Community Centre Investment Fund, which will deliver enhancement and refurbishment works on 369 community centres nationwide. In excess of €109 million has now been approved under the fund.

The successful community centre projects announced today will receive capital grants of up to €100,000 under category 2 of the fund. This builds on the recent approval in November of over €7.8 million for small scale refurbishment works of up to €25,000 on over 400 centres under category 1.

Included in the projects being funded under today’s announcement are:

  • County Carlow – Rathoe Community Hall – €100,000 for kitchen installation, fire alarm system, emergency lighting, upgrade timber flooring and install new solar panels.
  • County Donegal – Donegal Family Resource Community Centre – €100,000 for renovation and enhancement of the centre with improved accessibility.
  • County Kerry – Cahirciveen Social Services Community Centre – €100,000 for the expansion of the existing facility through the renovation of the upstairs section of the building.
  • County Laois – Clonaslee Community Centre – €100,000 for facility enhancement and refurbishment works.
  • County Longford – Clonguish Community Hall – €89,076 to fund a new heating system and kitchen enhancements.
  • County Mayo – Killala Community Centre – €100,000 for installation of an efficient gas heating system and mechanical ventilation system and new floor in the community centre.
  • County Sligo –  Banada Abbey Community Hall – €95,356 for the upgrade of a rural community hub and energy improvements.
  • County Westmeath Ballinahown Community Centre – €100,000 to fund essential maintenance of the roof of Ballinahown Community Centre.

The full list of community centres receiving funding is available here.

Image Credit: Julien Behal