Over €600k in funding to be shared by 26 community groups

Offaly County Council has welcomed the approval of funding by the Department of Rural & Community Development of over €600,000 to 26 Offaly based community groups this week. The successful groups were awarded funding under the Community Recognition Fund 2023, and were approved by the Local and Community Development Committee (LCDC) on Thursday.

This funding aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in Offaly in recognition of the contribution being made by communities in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

This funding was specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants (‘new arrivals’) including towns identified for the rapid build homes programme. The fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community.

In Offaly, nine areas were identified as having significant numbers of Ukrainians and other new arrivals. The towns were as follows: Tullamore, Portarlington, Birr, Kilcormac, Moneygall, Banagher, Shannonbridge, Clara and Dunkerrin.

There was a tremendous response to the Programme, with over 40 applicants seeking funding.

Cathaoirleach of Offaly LCDC, Councillor John Leahy, warmly welcomed the funding. He said “These grants will be of enormous benefit to the communities in the towns and villages which have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. This substantial funding will support a wide range of projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life and well-being of our communities.”

Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, Anna Marie Delaney, congratulated all of the successful applicants and thanked them for welcoming and hosting significant numbers of new arrivals. This funding will be used to enhance facilities and infrastructure used by a variety of groups in our communities such as sports clubs, community centres, transport infrastructure, Tidy Towns and Resource Centres.”

The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. A full list of the successful groups in receipt of Community Recognition Fund grants is available on the Offaly County Council’s website at www.offaly.ie and is outlined below: