The Community Recognition Fund was introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting new arrivals to Ireland seeking safety and protection here. Last year, through the 2023 Scheme, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in cities, towns and villages nationwide. Based on the continued impacts on communities throughout the country and the need to support these communities in welcoming new arrivals, a further €50 million is being provided under the Community Recognition Fund 2024.
South Dublin County Council has been allocated €2,249,663 by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) to deliver projects over 2024 and 2025, with funding allocated across 3 application windows as outlined below:
Application Window 1 May 2024
Application Window 2 August / September 2024
Application Window 3 January 2025
Funding
Funding is targeted to invest in those communities where the highest level of new arrivals are living, and where a clear need for investment is identified.
Projects to be funded will be capital in nature and shall deliver medium-long term benefits for the communities in which they are located. Projects relating to ongoing operational/running costs are not eligible for funding. The delivery of the project must be completed over the course of 2024 and 2025. The Local Authority is required to reserve a minimum of 20% and may reserve up to 50% of the allocation for expenditure in 2025 to respond to changing circumstances in communities.
The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000 applying to any single project. Smaller projects cannot be artificially combined to meet the minimum threshold of €50,000.
The type of projects eligible for funding under the Community Recognition Fund 2024 are:
- development, enhancement or refurbishment of community or cultural facilities including play areas, walkways, parks, community/sensory gardens, allotments, and recreational areas;
- development, 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; (any vehicle funded must be in good condition and not more than 5 years old)
- 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. (Purchases must only be administered by the local authority).
The Department of Rural and Community Development has published the full details of the scheme (including funding allocations) at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/e626a-community-recognition-fund-2023/
Application Process
There will be three separate calls for project proposals from community groups across the county.
The allocation of funding will be a competitive process and project proposals will be evaluated and successful applications will be submitted to the Department of Rural & Community Development for approval to proceed. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how their proposal serves the needs of new arrivals.
Please note that all submissions are subject to the Data Protection Act (as amended) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (as amended) and the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (as amended)
Dates for the current application window
Applications for Call 2 of the 2024 fund will open on August 1st and will close on September 12th.
You will be able to submit your application on August 1st using this form. If you wish to read the application questions before completing the expression of interest, you can do so by clicking here.
We will issue one final call under CRF 2024-25 in January 2025, the details of which will be published in due course.
If you need any further information about the fund, please send enquiries to CRF@sdublincoco.ie.