Introduction
This €9m fund is being provided by the Government to support community and voluntary groups impacted by Covid-19. This once-off fund will be allocated under the Department’s Community Enhancement Programme and in order to ensure there is sufficient flexibility to allow funding to be targeted to where it is needed in each Local Authority area it will be administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs).
South Dublin County will receive €338,797 which comprises:
· €207,043 Current funding (Non-Pay) for use towards running/operating costs
· €131,754 Capital funding for use towards carrying out necessary repairs and improvements to facilities, energy efficiency type projects, purchase of equipment etc.
In general, the Department requests that LCDCs ring fence 30% of its funding for grants of €1,000 or less, this is for guidance only.
The Community Activities Fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas
· With their non-pay running costs, for example, utility bills (electricity costs, refuse charges, heating charges) or other non-pay operating costs for example rental/lease costs, insurance bills.
· Groups will also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities, purchase equipment, for example tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment etc.
The funding could be used for the following (Note: This list is not exhaustive, but gives examples of types of expenditure):
· IT Equipment
· CCTV
· Training Equipment
· Safety Equipment
· General Equipment
· Sports Equipment
· Machinery
· Construction Works
· Energy efficient upgrade
· Renovation of building/premises
· Development of community facilities
· Maintenance of building/premises
· Non-pay Operating / running cost (Give details)
· Other (Give details)
The source of the funding (the Department of Rural and Community Development) is to be acknowledged:
The Community Activities Fund (CAF) is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Please see the following link for a press release on the launch of the CAF at national level by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/c53a9-ministers-humphreys-and-obrien-announce-9-million-community-activities-fund/
Closing Date for applications is midnight on Friday 25th February 2022