Laois council wants big local ideas for a new €1 million community fund

Laois County Council is inviting communities around Laois to apply for funding from a new €1 million pot for projects in their areas.

The local authority made the call after getting that €1,012,996 is the 2024 Laois allocation under the Community Recognition Fund 2024.

A similar amount was allocated to Laois last year but there is a change of emphasis in year two. While the 2023 scheme provided funding for small-scale investment in clubs and communities, the focus of the 2024 scheme is on projects of greater scale and impact. This means that the minimum level of funding for a project €50,000 to a max of €500,000. 

The council says the Fund aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities for the entire community in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

It says the funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants (‘new arrivals’) including towns identified for the rapid build homes programme.

County Hall adds that the Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

As a consequence, Laois County Council is now seeking Expressions of Interest for project proposals from community groups in towns and villages that are hosting high levels of the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection or International Protection Applicants. Only towns & villages that are hosting high levels of the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection or International Protection Applicants are eligible for this funding.

The local authority outlines the possible types of projects that can be funded under the scheme as follows:

• Development, enhancement or refurbishment of community or cultural facilities including play areas, walkways, parks, community/sensory gardens, allotments, and recreational areas;
• Dvelopment, enhancement or refurbishment of local club and sports facilities including facilities such as community swimming pools, changing rooms, toilets, digital aids such as score / information boards etc.
• Enhancement to school/parish facilities which are open to use by all of the community after school hours;
  purchase of equipment for local clubs, festivals, community events and organisations e.g. music, arts or sports equipment;
• Transport infrastructure such as the purchase of community vehicles, bus shelters and attendant information boards;
• Projects that help address dereliction and/or wider local economic and community development objectives;
• Purchase and refurbishment of vacant or derelict buildings for community use where a clear need is identified.
• Purchase of land and associated works for the development of community facilities such as play areas/ MUGAs or town parks/ community gardens, recreational areas etc.

Some conditions on projects to be funded are:

• Must be shovel ready;
• Must be capital in nature;
• Deliver medium-long term benefits for the communities in which they are located, and be capable of being delivered over the course of 2025 and 2026;
• A minimum spend of 50% of the allocation must be incurred in 2025.

The council says eligible projects will receive funding for capital costs, but not for any ongoing operational or running costs.

The local authority says the minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000 applying. The council says smaller projects cannot be artificially combined to meet the minimum threshold of €50,000.

For projects over €200,000 additional information must be provided at application stage giving further details on the needs identified in the location, the engagement and collaboration that resulted in the selection of the location and specific project and the capacity of the community to progress the proposed project.

Proposed project details should be submitted to crf@laoiscoco.ie by 4 pm Thursday 25th April 2024 using the EOI application form Expression of Interest. The council asks applicants to lease ensure to read the CRF guidelines in relation to the current scheme. More details here.