The Minister for Rural & Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, together with her colleague Minister Joe O’Brien TD, have announced a further €50 million in national funding under the Community Recognition Fund to deliver projects over 2024 and 2025.

The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced last year to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.

Meath County Council has been allocated €1,188,066 under the 2024 Community Recognition Fund.

Local authorities, in collaboration with communities, will be funded to develop projects that will deliver long term benefits to those living in the areas selected.

Projects to be funded will be capital in nature, deliver medium-long term benefits for the communities in which they are located, and be capable of being delivered over the course of 2025 and 2026. Projects that will be funded include:

• Development, enhancement or refurbishment of community or cultural facilities including play areas, walkways, parks, community/sensory gardens, allotments, and recreational areas;
• Development, enhancement or refurbishment of local club and sports facilities including facilities such as community swimming pools, changing rooms, toilets, digital aids such as score / information boards etc.;
• Enhancement to school/parish facilities which are open to use by all of the community after school hours;
• Purchase of equipment for local clubs, festivals, community events and organisations e.g. music, arts or sports equipment;
• Transport infrastructure such as the purchase of community vehicles, bus shelters and attendant information boards; (any vehicle funded must be in good condition and not more than 5 years old)
• Projects that help address dereliction and/or wider local economic and community development objectives;
• Purchase and refurbishment of vacant or derelict buildings for community use where a clear need is identified. Regards,

Proposed project details within the identified areas should be submitted to community@meathcoco.ie by close of business on 26th April, 2024. 

Please find links below to the following documentation:

• Guideline document for 2024 Community Recognition Fund (PDF, 711.63 kb
• 2024 Community Recognition Fund Press Release (PDF, 507.20 kb)
• Community Recognition Fund Appendix 2 Funding Proposal Application Form (MSWORD, 100.90 kb)

The Department has published the full details of the scheme (including funding allocations), which is available online here.

Full details of the scheme are also available on Meath County Council’s website, which is available here: