Municipal Districts Operations & Rural Development

Community Recognition Fund

Guidelines

The Department of Rural & Community Development has announced details of a €50 million fund to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution of communities in hosting new arrivals in the country in response to the Ukraine crisis. This fund has been allocated to Local Authorities based on the numbers of new arrivals located there. The Allocation for Cork County Council is €2,014,691 to deliver projects over 2024 to 2026, with funding allocated across 3 application windows as outlined below. In order to address changes in the numbers and locations of new arrivals during 2024, each local authority must reserve at least 20% of their allocation for the submission of a proposal under the third application window – this window is now open for applications.

  • Application Window 1 up to 31st May 2024 (CLOSED).
  • Application Window 2 August 1st to September 30th 2024 (CLOSED) (The Department of Rural & Community Development has not issued the outcome of Window 2 applications, an announcement is expected shortly).
  • Application Window 3 is NOW OPEN.

The terms of the fund are set out in the Department’s Scheme outline below;

Community Recognition Fund 2024

The Fund forms part of the Government’s “Our Rural Future” strategy. It is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by local authorities.

The funding is to be targeted at those communities, villages and towns where the highest levels of New Arrivals are located.

We are particularly interested in receiving applications from areas that may not yet have received funding (or have received minimal funding), under the Community Recognition Fund (CRF) 2023/2024, but are hosting New Arrivals.

Eligible Projects

Projects to be funded will be capital in nature, deliver tangible benefits for the communities in which they are located, and be capable of being delivered between 2024 and 2026. Eligible projects may receive funding for capital costs, but not for any ongoing operational or running costs. The type of projects eligible for funding 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.
  • Purchase of land and associated works for the development of community facilities such as play areas/ MUGAs or town parks/ community gardens, recreational areas etc. (Purchases must only be administered by the local authority).

Assessment of Project

The assessment and approval of projects will have regard to a number of factors including:

  • Compliance with the terms outlined in Community Recognition Fund Scheme Outline;
  • Alignment with the Cork County Development Plan and the Cork County Local Economic and Community Plan;
  • Ability to complete the project within the timelines prescribed in the Scheme Outline i.e. minimum 50% drawdown of funding in 2025 and 100% drawdown by 9th October, 2026;
  • All appropriate financial, public procurement and accounting rules and regulations must be complied with (Refer also to Section M – Funding Conditions of Scheme Outline);
  • Confirmation that the funding has not been used as a co-funding source for other Government Departments’ Schemes;
  • Proposals must demonstrate close collaboration with communities and business interests in the design and delivery of the proposed projects;
  • The range, mix, quality and impact of proposed projects, having regard to the available funding;
  • Other relevant considerations;

Applications

Applications accepted online only. Applications can be made by clicking the 'Make an application' button below by 5:00pm on Wednesday 22nd January, 2025 – this is to facilitate Cork County Council’s assessment of the applications prior to submission to the Department by 31st January, 2025.

Queries in relation to this Fund can be made through your local Municipal District office or by emailing CRF@corkcoco.ie.

Before you begin...

You can complete the online form in two ways:

  1. Gather the information and documents required and complete and submit the form in one sitting. This is the preferable option.
  2. Complete the form by saving and returning to progress at a later time. You can return to your saved form in 'My Requests'. This can be reliant on your continuing connection to the platform and your broadband. Please do not save a form with documents attached. Attaching the documents should be the last thing that you do before submitting the completed form.

In both cases, our advice is to not leave the final submission until the last minute.

Do not leave the open form idle for more that 2 hours as it will time out.

Also ensure that you select the submit button and receive an email confirming your submission once completed.

Make an application