Cork County Council Opens Applications for Community Recognition Fund 2024
Cork County Council is inviting applications for the Community Recognition Fund 2024. It aims to support the development of community infrastructure, and facilities for the entire community in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.
In April, the Department of Rural & Community Development announced details of €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund 2024 with Cork County Council receiving an allocation of €2,014,691 to deliver projects over 2024 to 2026, with funding allocated across three application windows. The second window is now open for applications.
The funding is specifically targeted at projects in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants (‘New Arrivals’) including towns identified for the rapid build homes programme. The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community.
Cork County Council is seeking applications for project proposals from Community Groups in towns and villages that are hosting high levels of the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection or International Protection Applicants. From a Cork County perspective, these include Midleton, Youghal, Millstreet, Mallow, Fermoy, Skibbereen, Macroom, Kinsale, Clonakilty, Cobh, Kanturk, Crookstown, Bandon, Buttevant, Bantry, Sherkin Island and Ballylicky.
Community groups can apply for between €50,000 and €500,000 in funding for capital projects. Projects are required to be shovel ready, be capital in nature and 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.
For projects over €200,000 additional information must be provided at application stage giving further details on the needs identified in the location, the engagement and collaboration that resulted in the selection of the location and specific project and the capacity of the community to progress the proposed project.
Applications for Window 1 closed at 5:00pm on Wednesday 15th May 2024.
Applications for Window 2 should be submitted online by 5:00pm on Thursday 12th September 2024.
Window 3 is expected to open in January 2025.
If an application is not successful in Window 1, it may be given further consideration in Windows 2 and 3, but the application must satisfy all the qualifying criteria outlined in the Scheme Guidelines.
Applications will be accepted online at the link at the bottom of the page.
Please ensure to read the CRF guidelines, available on the portal, in relation to the current scheme.
Queries in relation to the Community Recognition Fund can be made through your local Municipal District Office or by email to CRF@corkcoco.ie