Funding for innovative community projects in Mayo

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, and Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Marian Harkin, have announced the allocation of €47,489 in funds across Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim to deliver innovative community projects. Awarded as part of the overarching €1 million euro national Adult Literacy For Life (ALL) Collaboration and Innovation Fund 2026, the €47,489 funding allocated to Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim will address unmet literacy needs across the region through the delivery of transformational cross-community projects, spanning literacy, family literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, and financial literacy to benefit the local community.

The announcement coincided with the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) showcase event at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise hosted by the ALL National Programme Office in SOLAS, where learners, educators, and community partners in Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim and across Ireland showcased examples of best practice in literacy, and highlighted impactful 2025 CIF projects at the midpoint of Government’s 10-year national ALL strategy.

Minister Harkin said: "I'm really pleased to hear about the wonderful work that is taking place across the country. These innovative projects in Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, and across Ireland, are helping people access essential literacy services and contributing towards our goal of a more inclusive society for all.”

“Literacy remains a challenge for 1 in 5 adults aged 16-65, who struggle with everyday reading. The Collaboration and Innovation Fund is a vital investment in community projects that make a real difference in helping adults develop literacy, numeracy, digital, and financial skills so they can participate fully in society and reach their potential."

Roisin Egan, Regional Literacy Coordinator at Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB said: “The ALL Strategy sets out a clear plan to support adults who have unmet literacy needs across Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, and throughout Ireland. The Collaboration and Innovation Fund supports local groups to work together and try new ideas at community level. It helps organisations across Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim to develop practical projects that respond to unmet local literacy needs."

Further information about community projects in Mayo is available here.