Eligible groups urged to apply for PEACEPLUS funding
Organisations in Northern Ireland and border counties in the Republic are being encouraged to apply for funding to provide shared spaces under the new PEACEPLUS Programme.
€2 million CLÁR funding to provide minibuses, ambulances and more for rural communities
A lifeboat in Co Kerry, a search and rescue vehicle in Co Mayo and a community ambulance for counties Westmeath and Roscommon are just some of the vital modes of transport to be funded under the CLÁR Programme.
Dormant Accounts Fund provided €54.6 million in 2022
The recently published 2022 Dormant Accounts Fund Annual Report revealed that a total of €54.6 million in funding was spent across ten Government departments last year.
Government urged to increase child benefit by €50 to alleviate child poverty
At the launch of its Budget 2024 briefing today, Social Justice Ireland called for a monthly increase of €50 in child benefit payments for all.
Funding for three more projects granted under Community Development Programme
Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, today (Monday, May 29) announced funding for three additional projects under the Community Development Pilot Programme, and also officially opened the Limerick Traveller Network and Exchange House Ireland HUB.
A further €438,000 in funding granted to community and voluntary organisations
The latest tranche of funding under the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS) has provided an additional €438,000 to 166 organisations nationwide.
The payments provide a one-off contribution towards increased energy bills for 2022, and will issue to the organisations immediately.
Public consultation begins on Ireland’s first National Philanthropy Policy
A proposed policy that intends to encourage and grow philanthropy in Ireland was announced this week by Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien.
Ireland’s First National Philanthropy Policy is being developed by the Government in collaboration with key stakeholders. The public consultation phase of the policy was launched on May 23 at The Wheel’s Annual Summit.
2023 calendar of capital investment schemes published
The Department of Rural and Community Development has announced details of when the main capital investment schemes will be opening in 2023.
New initiative to transform vacant buildings into community facilities
A new €13 million fund launched today (Monday, March 27) aims to tackle vacancy and dereliction in rural Ireland.
The funding, under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, will see dozens of old, unused buildings transformed into multi-purpose community facilities.
Funding granted for Cherry Orchard Empowering Communities Programme
Minister for Community Development, Integration, and Charities, Joe O’Brien yesterday (Tuesday, March 7) announced the expansion of the Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) to the Cherry Orchard area.
The programme aims to empower local communities to craft their own response to area-based poverty, social exclusion and the resulting consequences, with the support of the relevant Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).
€2.4 million funding boost for walking trails
Funding of €2.4 million has been granted to develop 70 new walking trails across the country.
The development forms part of a planned major expansion of the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Walks Scheme, which will see the number of outdoor trails increase from 80 to 150 over the next two years.
Funding announced to help community and voluntary groups pay energy bills
A funding scheme to support 134 community and voluntary groups with their energy bills was announced this week.
Under the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS), small grants are provided to community groups, development associations, and volunteer-led organisations.
€50 million fund to support communities hosting refugees
– Major initiative to support communities that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries
– Funding for sports clubs, community organisations, transport infrastructure and local groups
– Every local authority in the country to benefit
Pobal’s new Strategic Plan aims to support social inclusion and improve outcomes
A new Strategic Plan to support social inclusion, enhance community development and combat social disadvantage has been launched by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys.
€180 million funding available under new LEADER programme
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today announced the details of the €180 million LEADER Programme for 2023-2027.
SVP sees budget impact on families, students, carers, people with disabilities and homeless people
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) says that while there are some welcome aspects to Budget 2023, the one-off measures won’t stem a rise in poverty.
Irish Traveller Movement welcomes plan to see five times more Travellers enter third level
– However, only “paltry increase” in funds for Traveller and Roma accommodation
€12.5 million funding boost for 600 community centres
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today announced funding of over €12.5 million for the upgrade and development of almost 600 Community Centres nationwide.
New Community Centre Fund part of “unprecedented” €150m package
Registration is now open and the deadline for applications is June 7th for community groups who wish to apply for funding though the Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF), a new fund which will see €15m invested this year in community buildings across the country.
Disability Federation joins campaign for insurance reform
The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) representing over 100 voluntary disability groups, has joined a campaign calling for insurance reform.
€680k is going to 50 plucky social enterprises
€680,000 has been shared among 50 organisations under the Awareness Raising Initiative for Social Enterprise (ARISE) scheme. The scheme is designed to raise awareness of social enterprises and their positive impact in communities.
€1 million in Capital Funding for Social Enterprises
247 organisations were approved today to share €1m from the new Social Enterprises Capital Grants Scheme. The funds will be spent on everything from swimming pools to childcare to community centres and foodbank centres.
Dubs invited to ‘Festival of Fundraising’ starting Sept 20
A ‘Festival of Fundraising’ opens in Dublin, on September 20th. It is aimed at members of groups that are involved in Dublin City Public Participation Network (PPN).
Humphreys urges other towns to follow Cootehill’s example
While the closing date for receipt of applications to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has passed for this year, plan now for the next round of funding. Community-based websites qualify, as Cootehill has proven.
North Kerry village forges ahead with unique attraction
The LEADER Programme provides funding to support community-led rural development. Here we feature one of the thousands of successful projects, to give a flavour of the kind of ideas that win over the funding adjudicators.
€70m in LEADER funds for 2021-’22 – announced today
– Announcement today by Ministers Humphreys and McConalogue
– Overall LEADER allocation to increase by €50m following EU support
– Funding will support rural communities and private enterprises in Covid-19 recovery
– Funding welcomed by ILDN
16 days extra for Tidy Towns groups to apply for grants up to €1,000
The deadline has been extended until Friday, March 19th, for Tidy Towns committees to apply for grants of up to €1,000 in “top-up funding” to help them prepare for this year’s competition.
While the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition was cancelled in 2020, the national organisers promised it would go ahead this year.
Government funds keeping Lucan disability group and others operational
Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, on November 12, announced funding of €51m from the Dormant Accounts Fund “to address disadvantage across the country”.
The funding has increased. Four years ago, the spend was €28.5m.
Social enterprise sector has a new representative body from today
CAPTION: A year ago – last July 19 – the Government’s first National Social Enterprise Policy was launched and, in November, the first National Social Enterprise Conference (run by the Department of Rural and Community Development) took place in Croke Park. Pictured among the attendees are two of the founders of a new body launched today called ‘Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland’ (Seri) – Larry O’Neill, CEO of South Dublin County Partnership and Senan Cooke, author of ‘The Enterprising Community’. They are pictured here with Bernie Walshe from Sunflower Recycling. (PHOTO BY: Changing Ireland).
One Minister, two Departments: Community in Cabinet
In 1997, “Community” became a named function of a government department for the first time. It has remained in usage ever since. So how come Minister Heather Humphreys is responsible for two departments, one including Community? Allen Meagher reports:
Meath River Rescue is speedier and safer with new LEADER-funded equipment
Last year, 133 people drowned, the majority of them men in tragic circumstances.
When a drowning occurs, bodies are usually recovered thanks in no small part to the many voluntary search, rescue and recovery groups.
Meath River Rescue is one such group and it has twice benefitted from LEADER funding.
Tánaiste promises continued funding to border groups post-Brexit
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s vote in Westminster, community groups north and south will continue to be supported, promised Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.
Helping Hands: Communities out in force for funding advice
Many community organisations rely on funding to keep the lights on, but grant application processes can be overly complex. What if there were information sessions to help with that?
How does the DRCD really spend its money?
The Department of Rural and Community Development has the smallest budget of any government department, but what does it do with its allocation?
A Chinese hero and the museum that woke the dragon
The Michael Davitt Museum may be small, but it’s impressed an unlikely international supporter: China. The deserving community museum recently received department funding to further its reach.
The real-life value of Community Enhancement funding
When it comes to large funding programmes, it can be hard to see beyond the big numbers to the actual impact they make on communities. It’s only when you look at the nitty gritty that their true value reveals itself.
Credit unions most reliable financial institutions in Ireland?
It’s been 10 years since the banks were bailed out, but credit unions are still unfairly tarnished. This year’s Credit Union Summer School in University College Cork sought to clear their name.
Who are the 6 winners of the 2018 Resilient Communities Fund
In an age where community-based solutions can solve national problems, Social Innovation Fund is offering a helping hand. At this year’s Ploughing Championships, we were introduced to the six groups that the organisation is supporting in their efforts.
LEADER milestone: 1,000th project proposal approved for funding
As LEADER reaches a special milestone, we look at the project that got it there.
Budget 2019: €62m increase in Rural and Community Development budget
As the government announces the details of Budget 2019, what has been allocated to the Department, and where else will communities see increases?
Further perspectives on ‘Alignment’
– Excerpts from reports by Dr Brendan O’Keeffe, Niall Crowley, Debra Mountford, Seán O’Riordan:
A €3.6 billion error? Here’s what we could do with that money
It’s all rather curious. Ireland is €3.6 billion better off than we thought.
Update in relation to former CDPs and the LCDP
The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government this afternoon released figures to ‘Changing Ireland’ that show the number of projects funded under the Local and Community Development Programme.
INTERVIEW – Minister Carey says ‘no’ to national forum proposal, but ‘yes’ to some local proposals
‘Changing Ireland’ interviewed Minister Pat Carey yesterday on a range of topics, including a key question over changing structures for State support for communities within the framework of the Local and Community Development Programme.
2 PROGRAMMES TO BE MERGED – CURRAN IN CAVAN
The Community Development Programme, first established in 1990, is to be absorbed into a new unnamed programme that also incorporates the Local Development and Social Inclusion Programme.
8 WAYS COMMUNITY GROUPS CAN SAVE MONEY
Every tabloid magazine in the known universe has published articles this year about “getting through” the downturn/depression. Here are our ideas for non-profit organisations.More ideas welcome. Please leave your comments/suggestions below:1) Instead of paying an...
Cutbacks to CE places reversed
Volunteers, workers and SIPTU mounted a successful campaign to have cuts to Community Employment Schemes reversed. At a time of rising unemployment, the Schemes need to be expanded if anything. €10m was due to be cut. Thankfully, the CE schemes will survive for now....
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