83 Mayo communities get €145,000 in New Year's funding boost

THE Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, has confirmed that 83 communities in Mayo benefitted to the tune of €145,353 in 2019 through his Department’s Community Enhancement Programme.

Minister Ring allocated €4.5 million nationally to the programme in 2019 and is now providing details of over 2,000 projects which have received support.

The Community Enhancement Programme provides capital grants to community groups to help them to enhance facilities in disadvantaged communities. It supports a range of activities in all areas of communities, such as childcare groups, playgrounds, recreational groups, sports grounds, landscaping, and supporting the elderly.

Some examples of the 83 projects supported in Mayo include:

• Order of Malta Ireland, Westport branch: €1,000 for the installation of CCTV to protect building and equipment

• Kiltimagh Community Futures: €4,500 to set up of electric car charging points, defibrillator signage and bike stands

• St Cormac’s Society, Ballina: €2,500 to purchase IT Equipment to assist cultural project of archiving school records

• Killawalla Community Centre: €3,400 for upgrades to the centre

Minister Ring said: “Having announced my intention to support communities in Mayo through the CEP last year, I am delighted to announce that 83 communities and local organisations in the county are set to benefit from it.

“A relatively small amount of money can go a long way and this investment will greatly benefit local community projects in Mayo and throughout the country.

“Typical enhancements under the Programme include the renovation of community centres and community amenities, improvements to town parks and common areas and spaces and the purchase of equipment which is used to benefit the community. The programme has also supported energy efficient upgrades, developing community gardens, provision of defibrillators, CCTV, and sports and IT equipment.”

“I’m also delighted to confirm that I intend to run the programme again in 2020.”

The application process for the CEP is administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each area. There was an open application process when the 2019 CEP was launched in March.

The list of recipients is as follows: