Eight Meath community centres share in over €1.5M funding
Funding of over €1.5M for the upgrade and development of eight community centres in Meath was announced today.
The announcement by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys under the new Community Centre Investment Fund represents the largest ever capital investment in upgrading community centres nationwide and will see grants of between €25,000 to €300,000 provided to successful projects.
Over €33 million was announced for the upgrade and development of 278 Community Centres nationwide.
The funding will be used to upgrade, renovate and refurbish community centres, parish halls, scouts clubs, youth hubs, family resource centres and sports complexes across the country.
Commenting on the announcement Fine Gael TD Damien English said:
“I was delighted to work with my colleague Heather Humphrey’s for these groups. This funding will ensure that these centres who are very much the heart of the communities can continue to service the local community.
"These centres are a place for people of all ages to meet up and socialise with friends, old and new. This funding represents the largest single investment in community centres in decades.”
Deputy English continued:
"When I visited these centres and the groups working on the applications it was very clear how important these halls are within the community.
"In one area I visited, an Active Retirement group hadn’t been able to use their hall for over a year and with Covid also in the mix they really wanted to get back to meeting each other. They wanted their community hall to be upgraded so that amongst all the other advantages of doing so, that older people wouldn’t feel isolated within the community and that they had a place to come to. People want to get back to a warm and safe space to mix, even if it is just for a chat and a coffee morning.
“The local community centre is at the heart of our towns, villages and parishes right across the country, said Minister Humphreys. “Our community centres come in many different shapes and sizes and provide a wide and diverse range of services and activities.
“The community centre is where the children go to play sport; it’s where meals are provided for our senior citizens; it’s where the local dramatic society perform; it’s where the ICA, our Mens Shed’s, youth clubs and other local organisation come together for their meetings and events.
“Most importantly in the month of December – the community centre is often the place that Santa will come to visit to meet the local children!
“It was a priority for me as Minister for Rural and Community Development to put this new funding stream in place and I am delighted to announce the successful projects today.”
The following Community Centres received funding:
Meath Moynalty Community Alert €25,000.00
Meath Dunboyne Community Centre €97,882.86
Meath Dunderry Kilbride and Robinstown Community Hall company
Ltd by guarantee €300,000.00
Meath Athboy Development Forum Company Limited By Guarantee €299,977.83
Meath Oldcastle Gfc Company Limited by Guarantee €300,000.00
Meath Moylagh Community Centre CLG €300,000.00
Meath Slane Community Centre CLG €213,406.19