Community Recognition Fund

Our Rural Future and WCC and Gov Ireland 2040 logos

Community Recognition Fund 2024

Application now closed

Applications are now invited for window 3 of this funding scheme from Community and Voluntary groups in County Westmeath for funding from the Community Recognition.

The Community Recognition Fund 2024 aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities 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.

The funding is specifically targeted at capital type projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants.

The Community Recognition Fund 2024 is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Please see the following link for a press release on the launch of the Community Recognition Fund at national level by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State Joe O’Brien TD Our Rural Future: Minister Humpreys and Minister Joe O'Brien launch 2024 Community Reconigtion Fund

Criteria for the programme

Projects to be funded will 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. Eligible projects will receive funding for capital costs, but not for any ongoing operational or running costs.

The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000 applying. Smaller projects cannot be artificially combined to meet the minimum threshold of €50,000 – while the 2023 scheme provided funding for small scale investment in clubs and communities (e.g. for small scale equipment), the focus of the 2024 scheme is on projects of greater scale and impact.

Full details of this funding scheme are available here

If you have any queries please contact the Community Development Section, Westmeath County Council at 044 9332215 or at crf@westmeathcoco.ie