Almost €75,000 granted to three local facilities under Community Centre Investment Fund
Almost €75,000 has been allocated to local community groups today under the Community Centre Investment Fund.
Over €24,000 has been awarded to Ballinahowen Community Development Company.
Almost €25,000 in funding will go towards Moate Community Development Association Company.
Finally, almost €25,000 has also been granted to Rosemount Community Centre.
Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy has welcomed the announcement of funding to twelve facilities in Westmeath.
The funding announced by the Department of Communities & Social Protection will see almost €300,000 invested in facilities across the county to assist with various upgrades.
Deputy Troy said: “The Community Centre Investment Fund is a key part of the Governments investment in rural Ireland, the fund in its entirety will ensure that a large number of our community centres, Parish Halls, GAA Clubhouses, Youth Facilities and Men’s Sheds hugely enhance and improve their facilities.
I am pleased to have worked with a number of the recipients who were announced this morning in preparing and submitting their applications and I know that this funding will have a hugely positive impact in all of the successful areas.”
Westmeath Minister of State Peter Burke also welcomed the news saying: “I am delighted that my colleague Minister Humphreys has made this funding available to many local community centres given the vital work that staff and volunteers there do and the invaluable services they provide.
“Fine Gael is working to build stronger safer communities and today’s funding allocation is the latest in a long line of initiatives and supports aimed at making our towns, villages and cities more attractive places to live and visit. When we set the Department of Rural and Community Development, we wanted to focus on rural investment and key locations that form the centre of many of our communities. Community Centres are key buildings within parishes and localities, we see dancing groups, sports, various classes and activities held here for young and old alike and we want to invest in them to make sure they are safe, modern, hospitable and comfortable buildings for generations to come.
"Community centres are valued shared spaces and are very much at the heart of Westmeath towns and villages. I hope this funding assists in making them even better in the provision of services to people all across the county," Minister Burke concluded.
The total funding allocated for Westmeath projects is in excess of €285,000 from a nationwide allocation of €12.5m. Round One of the Community Centre Fund covers applications for projects of up to €25,000. There will be two additional rounds of funding under the scheme announced in the coming weeks with projects being considered with a price tag of up to €300,000.