A total of €978,223.73 has been allocated to nine community centres across Waterford under the new Community Centres Investment Fund according to Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins.
Senator Cummins said “I am absolutely delighted to have worked closely with many of the successful organisations who put forward very strong applications to the Department of Rural and Community Development. I want to especially thank my Fine Gael colleague Minister Humphreys for once again demonstrating her commitment to Waterford with this unprecedented community centre funding. The Minister listened to my calls for an expanded funding envelope to ensure more category 2 and category 3 applications were successful”.
Senator Cummins said “This funding is in addition to the €437,603 which was allocated to twenty-one community organisations under category one of this new Community Centres Investment Fund in October. I know the value which community groups right across Waterford place on this new funding stream which is open to both rural and urban community centres. There is no question funding like this will go a long way towards future proofing these facilities for generations to come.
Announcing the funding Minister Humphreys said “The local Community Centre is at the heart of our towns, villages and parishes all across this country. They come in many different shapes and sizes and are a place for people of all ages to meet up and socialise with friends, old and new. I want to support these great local facilities and that’s why I launched the new Community Centre Investment Fund earlier this year. The level of interest has been unprecedented under any scheme previously ran by the Department of Rural and Community Development”.
The Waterford allocations are detailed below;
Senator Cummins concluded by saying “I know there will be some organisations which have been unsuccessful in this year’s funding allocation, but the good news is, it is intended that this scheme will be replicated again. I have also asked Minister Humphreys to consider introducing a fund for new community centres because there is unquestionably new communities and areas that would benefit from such a fund. The feedback I have received so far gives me confidence that such a scheme maybe forthcoming next year.