More than 200 Cork projects share €400k Local Enhancement Programme funding windfall

ALMOST €400,000 has been distributed between 94 projects in Cork city and a further 136 groups in the county as part of the grant awards under the Local Enhancement Programme for 2024.

Scout groups in Kinsale and Carrigaline, a first responder group in Ardfield/Rathbarry, and the Ballyvourney Active Retired Group were among the beneficiaries in the county, while grants for the Blackpool Community Employment Scheme, the Cork Academy of Music and the Ballyphehane Community Association were among those announced in the city. 

The total funding divided among the 136 groups in the area administered by Local Community Development Committees under the auspices of Cork County amounted to €204,632, while in the city area, a total of €193,504.02 was announced for the 94 groups there.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 was launched in December 2023 with funding of €6m available, which included €1m in ringfenced funding specifically to support Women’s groups.

The funding will provide capital support essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged rural and urban areas.

The allocations were announced by the Community and Rural Development Minister Heather Humphreys and the minister of state for community development Joe O’Brien this week.

'Building blocks'

Ms Humphreys said the programme was about giving a helping hand to local groups and clubs, which she described as the “building blocks of Irish community life”.

“These grants will help thousands of community organisations, clubs, men’s and women’s sheds, youth centres, and parish halls to provide their valuable services to the people in their areas,” said Ms Humphreys.

She added that supporting local communities to “shape their future” was a key focus of the Government’s rural development policy.