Communities which have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries in Laois will receive funding for development projects.
The Community Recognition Fund of €50 million was announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys today.
This is the first of its kind designed specifically to boost communities around the country which have welcomed and are hosting families and citizens from Ukraine and other countries.
Laois County Council has been allocated €1,014,607 to invest in communities which have really stepped up in recent weeks and months, opening up their homes and facilities to people who are fleeing from war and very much in need.
Allocations were made to local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there.
Projects which will be supported under the fund include:
The refurbishment of local sports clubs and facilities and the upgrade of community facilities such as play areas, walkways, parks and community gardens.
It will also include the purchase of equipment to benefit local clubs, festivals, music and arts organisations; the enhancement of school or parish facilities that are open to the wider community after hours or on weekends; and transport infrastructure such as community vehicles and bus shelters.
The news has been welcomed by politicians with TD Charlie Flanagan urging community groups to engage with the Council on the matter.
He said: “The projects that will be supported will benefit the whole community, young and old alike.
“Communities will be enabled to develop and deliver initiatives that directly address their local needs.
“It could be used for transport infrastructure such as the purchase of a community vehicle or bus shelter, or it could be used to develop sports clubs or for arts and music.
“I encourage local community groups to engage with Laois County Council to assess how funding might be accessed and best utilised.”
TD Sean Fleming: “Communities all over Ireland have opened their homes and facilities in recent times to people who are very much in need.
“This fund will support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community in developing projects ranging from sports clubs, playgrounds and walkways, to community groups in areas such as arts, drama and music.
“I encourage communities within Laois to contact Laois County Council directly in the coming weeks to ensure that high quality projects can be delivered.
“The local committees and organisations are to be commended for their ongoing work to improve these projects.”
While Senator Pippa Hackett said: “I’m delighted to see that €50million is being made available to communities across Ireland by this new Community Recognition Fund.
“This fund, the first of its kind, is recognising the invaluable part our communities have played in welcoming and embracing citizens from Ukraine and other countries.
“It is allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there and will see over €1million go to Laois County Council and just under €670,000 to Offaly.
“It is wonderful to see our communities being recognised and rewarded for being so welcoming over the years, as they have dealt with many challenges, not least the war in Ukraine.
“I encourage communities to engage with their local authorities in developing projects that directly address local needs.
“The fund can be used for a wide variety of projects from refurbishment of local sports clubs and community facilities to festivals and transport and I look forward to seeing the fruits of this fund come to bear, benefitting our towns and villages for years to come.”
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