Community Recognition Fund 2024 : Community Recognition Fund 2024- PHASE 1 Application
Description
Please read the Application Guidelines for the ‘Community Recognition Fund 2024' before completing this form.
Department of Rural and Community Development
Community Recognition Programme 2024.
Introduction
The Community Recognition Fund 2024 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.
The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants 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.
2024 Community Recognition Fund
The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 when funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects nationwide. A further €50 million is being provided under the Community Recognition Fund 2024. Of this fund, €1,055,308 is allocated to County Offaly.
Projects situated in towns and villages that do not have high levels of new arrivals are not deemed eligible.
The deadline for submitting applications under this Fund is Friday 3rd May 2024 at 4pm.
You should provide as much information as possible in your application to allow the Evaluation Committee decide what projects to recommend to the Department.
Provide details of any community consultation you have carried out which supports your argument that there is a clear need for this service/facility in your town / village. A clear need for investment must be identified.
Provide details of costings (at least one estimate) to support your application.
Outline group capacity and ability to control cashflow, governance, tender process, audit of project, etc.
Outline how the project aligns with key priorities identified in the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) and County Development Plan, or other Local Area Plans.
An Evaluation Committee from Offaly Local Community Development Committee will assess projects submitted before 3rd May 2024 and score them during May 2024.
The committee will score projects based on the following selection criteria:
· Number of ‘new arrivals’ living in your town/village
· Previous funding provided under Community Recognition Fund 2023
· Priorities/rationale for project
· Value For Money
· Community Need and Benefit
· Realistic Timelines and Realistic Costs
· Capacity of group to successfully deliver project
· Planning and Consent issues
· Views of the local MD office staff
· Public accessibility to the facility/service to be provided
· Availability of other funding streams – LEADER/Climate Action
· Other Considerations
· In Phase 1 Offaly County Council will submit funding proposals based on applications successfully assessed by the Evaluation Committee to the Department of Rural & Community Development before 31st May 2024.
· The Second Phase of applications will be accepted/assessed in August and September 2024.
· The Final Phase will be accepted/assessed in January 2025 (minimum 20% of overall Fund).
The Department of Rural & Community Development will advise on successful projects for the First Phase in late June 2024. 50% of all Community Recognition Fund project works must be complete by 31 May 2025 (not individual projects).
All works and final reports must be completed and submitted to the Department by 1st November 2026.
Projects to be funded must be capable of being delivered over the course of 2025 and 2026. Eligible projects will receive funding for capital costs, but not for any ongoing operational or running costs.
The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000 applying. Smaller projects cannot be artificially combined to meet the minimum threshold of €50,000 – while the 2023 scheme provided funding for small scale investment in clubs and communities (e.g. for small scale equipment), the focus of the 2024 scheme is on projects of greater scale and impact.
Local authorities have scope to invest the funding based on their own distinct local needs as identified through a “bottom-up” approach based on community engagement.
The type of projects eligible for funding are:
- 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).
Offaly County Council have been awarded €1,055,308 under this Fund.
Applications should relate to one or more key priority areas identified in their LCDC’s Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) Offaly Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) - Offaly County CouncilOffaly County Councill in order to be eligible for consideration.
Applications for this grant can be made online only on this application form. Applicants are eligible to apply once they meet the LCDC's qualifying criteria.
Eligibility
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Applications must be submitted online no later than 4pm on Friday, 3rd May 2024
- Organisations should have appropriate governance in place to oversee funds, manage procurement procedures and record all required documentation throughout the project
- The recipient shall adhere to relevant EU and national public procurement requirements.
- Any change in the purpose of the grant aid, change in key elements or re-allocation across key elements must be requested in writing and no changes should be made until the local authority requests and confirms permission of the Department for same
- The project, and all approved elements of the project, must be completed and all grant aid claims submitted to the Department no later than 18th October 2026 unless otherwise agreed by the Department.
- The Department may de-commit grant aid if the project, or approved elements of the project, are not completed by 18th October 2026.
- The Department may de-commit funding prior to 18th October 2026 if it considers the project cannot realistically be completed by this date.
- The grant aided project must operate as approved for a minimum of five years following the date of final payment of grant aid by the Department or the final commissioning of the project, whichever is the longer.
- The recipient undertakes to protect the State’s investment and will not use it as security for any other activity without the consent of the Department.
- The recipient shall ensure that all assets funded in whole or in part by the Community Recognition Fund 2024 shall be maintained in good order, repair and condition.
- The recipient shall not dispose of grant aided assets within a period of six years from date of final payment of grant aid without prior approval of the Department.
- Assets purchased by the Community Recognition Fund 2024 shall not be hired out, pledged, mortgaged or charged for financial gain without prior approval of the Department
- The recipient will facilitate a site visit to produce a report and signed declaration confirming project elements approved by the Department have been completed
- PROJECT IRELAND 2040 / OUR RURAL FUTURE BRANDING - Recipients will acknowledge the support of the Department of Rural and Community Development, Our Rural Future and Project Ireland 2040 and any other applicable sources of funding in all public announcements (including online), advertising and signage, as appropriate, relating to the project.
- The Department must be notified at least one month in advance of any opening of a funded facility/amenity.
- The Minister and the local authority shall not be liable for any accidents, illnesses or claims arising out of any work grant aided by the Department.
- The recipient shall retain and shall maintain all insurances adequate and necessary to operate and deliver the project.
- If the project involves works on buildings or lands that are not owned by the recipient, a minimum five-year lease must be in place from the date of final payment of grant aid or commissioning of the project, whichever is longer.
- If the project involves building, renovation or construction works, the recipient must meet all statutory requirements, including Health & Safety and ensure all necessary planning requirements, permissions and consents are in place prior to commencing those works.
- The recipient must ensure all relevant assurances are established in respect of tax compliance of contractors and suppliers and evidence of compliance must be provided at claim stage, as set out in Circular 44/2006 “Tax Clearance Procedures Grants, Subsidies and Similar Type Payments” and When is a Tax Clearance Certificate required? (revenue.ie)
- Only non-recoverable VAT, that is where a recipient is not registered for VAT, is eligible for funding, and written confirmation must be obtained from the Revenue Commissioners and dated no more than three months prior to any expenditure claim.
- The information supplied by the applicant group /organisation must be accurate and complete.
- Misinformation may lead to disqualification and/or the repayment of any grant made.
- All information provided in respect of the application for a grant will be held electronically. The Department reserves the right to publish a list of all grants awarded on its website.
- The Freedom of Information Act applies to all records held by the Department and Local Authorities.
- The application must be signed by the Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer of the organisation making the submission.
- It is the responsibility of each organisation to ensure that it has proper procedures and policies in place, including appropriate insurance, where relevant.
- Evidence of expenditure, receipts /invoices must be retained and provided to the local authority or their representative if requested.
- Breaches of the terms and conditions of the grants scheme may result in sanctions including disbarment from future grant applications.
- Please ensure the application form is completed in full. Incomplete applications will be returned for further information and will slow down the funding process.
- In order to process your application, it may be necessary for Offaly County Council to collect personal data from you. Such information will be processed in line with the Local Authority’s privacy statement which is available to view on Privacy Statement - Offaly County Council
- The recipient and Department agree that they are subject to the data protection and privacy laws of Ireland and the EU, in particular the Data Protection Act 2018 and Regulation (EU) 2016/679, known as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).
If you have any queries about this funding please contact community@offalycoco.ie or 05793 57401.
Eligibility
This application process is for organisations interested in applying directly for funding under the Community Recognition Fund 2024 - the application form can also be used to highlight areas of need in eligible communities that you would like the local authority to undertake specific works to improve or provide facilities.
If you have any queries about this funding please contact community@offalycoco.ie or 05793 57401.
Eligibility
This application process is for organisations interested in applying directly for funding under the Community Recognition Fund 2024 - the application form can also be used to highlight areas of need in eligible communities that you would like the local authority to undertake specific works to improve or provide facilities.
Community Recognition Fund 2024 : Community Recognition Fund 2024- PHASE 1 Application
Deadline
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