Government Supports for Rural Areas and Communities

Government Supports for Rural Areas and Communities

This document will be updated as information is received.

 

CLÁR funding

Does your community need a playground?  Do you need to upgrade your local basketball court?  The CLÁR Funding Scheme is available to areas of population decline in County Clare.  Under the 2022 scheme, funding will be provided under 3 measures:

  • Measure 1: (Operated by Clare County Council): Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
  • Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
  • Measure 3: Our Islands

Measure 1 will be operated by Clare County Council. Applications should be submitted to Clare County Council at clar@clarecoco.ie by Thursday 31st March 2022. The application form and scheme guidelines can be accessed at the following link: https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/grants/clar/

Measure 2 closes on the 8th April.  More information can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=small-scale-rural-projects-clar

 

Town and Village Renewal Scheme Connected Hubs

Development of remote working facilities joining the National Connected Hubs Network.  Closes 4th April

More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/16b47-connected-hubs-fund/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/c5849b-rural-funding/?section=connected-hubs-fund

 

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme – deadlines 19th April & 25th May

The 2022 Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme emphasises the opportunities for recreational amenities located near rivers, lakes and beaches and also seeks to support recreational infrastructure that provides an inclusive approach for communities to deliver outlets that support a diverse range of users, including people with disabilities and older adults. The 2022 scheme will, in particular, prioritise projects which have evidence of strong community engagement.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d14e1-outdoor-recreation-infrastructure-scheme/

 

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)

Supports large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas.

  • Category 1 – currently open (Large-scale capital projects which are ready to commence on the date of application) closes 29th April
  • Category 2 – To open in August (Seed capital funding for strategic, large-scale projects)

More information available at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/05bfe-rural-regeneration-and-development-fund/

 

Community Centre Investment Fund (application process to be announced)

This new capital Fund will invest €15 million in the upgrade and refurbishment of community buildings across the country so that thousands of people of all ages can benefit. Under the Fund groups and organisations based in both rural and urban communities can apply for grants ranging from €10,000 to €300,000.

Application forms will be available online in the coming weeks

Enquiries can be made to: ccif@dcrd.gov.ie

 

Empowering Communities Programme (application process to be announced)

This €2 million programme will focus on supporting communities to develop and help implement tailored community work responses to the specific challenges faced locally. Its aim is to empower local communities to craft their own response to area based poverty, social exclusion and the resulting consequences, with the support of the Local Community Development Committee. The ECP will focus on augmenting the efforts of a small number of areas that have been identified by the Pobal HP Deprivation Index as areas of particular disadvantage.

 

Town Centre First policy document

The Town Centre First policy aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community.

The Town Centre First policy sets out a range of Actions which collectively will create the framework required to support our towns to achieve the desired outcomes and deliver on their own unique vision. These Actions are centred around improving our knowledge and understanding of our towns and what they need, enhancing the capacity of delivery agents to implement this ambitious policy, building new structures at national and local level, and ensuring that new and existing funds are co-ordinated and targeted towards the implementation of Town Centre First in each town. Key priorities in establishing and growing this framework include:

  1. A network of Town Regeneration Officers
  2. Capacity building programmes for Town Teams
  3. A national, integrated and scaled-up Health Check Programme
  4. A Town Centre First Toolkit to include a Web Portal
  5. A targeted investment programme
  6. Pathfinder towns
  7. Mechanisms to put town centres at the heart of decision making
  8. Better data which enhances our understanding of Ireland’s towns
  9. A new National Town Centre First Office
  10. Cross-Government focus and alignment

For more information the policy document can be viewed here: https://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/215052_3402995b-3045-4e7a-b839-12ca21a02611.pdf

 

Town and Village Renewal Scheme 

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is one of a series of national and local support measures designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, under the Department of Rural & Community Development’s Rural Development Investment Programme. Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, over €93 million of funding has been approved for more than 1,340 projects across Ireland. Will be managed by local authorities. More information to follow.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/23584-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/

 

Streetscape Enhancement Fund (currently closed for applications)

Improving the visual appearance of our urban streetscapes increases pride and confidence in our home towns and villages, making them more attractive places to live, work and do business.

 

Local Improvement Scheme – currently being allocated to local authorities

Provides funding to help local authorities carry out improvement works on private and non-publicly maintained roads.  More information available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/b03384-local-improvement-scheme-lis/

 

Dormant Accounts Fund Social Enterprise – Capital Supports

Provides capital grants for the scaling up of Social Enterprises. Scheduled to open in early May.  More information on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/624c74-social-enterprise/#funding-and-supports-for-social-enterprises