Cash boost for local Fingal community and voluntary groups

Fingal’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has approved the allocation of over €260,000 to community and voluntary groups across the region under the 2020 Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) and the Community Enhancement Programme Community Centres and Community Facilities Scheme.

Some €68,375.00 was allocated by the Department of Rural & Community Development to Fingal County Council for the Community Enhancement Programme 2020 and a further €192,805.00 in funding for the Community Enhancement Programme Community Centres and Community Facilities Scheme.

Many projects across Fingal are receiving funding through the Community Centres and Community Facilities Scheme including Loughshinny Community Centre (€10,000), Mulhuddart Community Centre (€7,500), Balbriggan Cricket Club (€8,000), Garristown Community Council (€8,500) and Round Towers GAA Club (€4,000) among others.

In the Community Enhancement Scheme, which funds smaller amounts, projects such as Swords Tidy Towns (€573), Rush Community Council (€1,500), Naul Community Centre (€2,000), Mulhuddart Mens Shed (€1,000) and Skerries Allotments Association (€1,000) will receive financial support.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy welcomed the grant approvals and said: “The Community Enhancement Programme supports a range of investment in all areas of communities, among them childcare groups, playgrounds, recreational groups, sports grounds, landscaping, and the elderly.”

A total of 123 grants will be paid to groups across the region under the 2020 Schemes, which supports disadvantaged communities throughout the country by providing capital grants to community groups. As in previous years the CEP Scheme was heavily oversubscribed.

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said: “The CEP Scheme is a great source of funding for Community and Voluntary Groups and compliments many of the funding and support initiatives available through Fingal County Council. A vibrant community and voluntary sector are vital to the Covid-19 recovery.”

The CEP provides a flexible and targeted approach to funding those communities most in need and is aimed at addressing disadvantage as identified in the Fingal Local Economic and Community Plan.

Emer O’Gorman, Director of Economic, Enterprise, Tourism and Culture Department for Fingal County Council said: “I welcome the approval by the LCDC of this funding which will greatly assist community groups in delivering their projects. The level of funding available recognises the important role played by community and voluntary groups in addressing disadvantage in our communities.”

Declan Ryan, Chief Officer of the Fingal LCDC said “The CEP Schemes have proven very popular again this year and every effort was made by the LCDC to support as many projects and groups as possible. The LCDC looks forward with confidence to supporting local community and voluntary groups into the future.