County Carlow community centre part of €26 million national funding for improvements

Local County Carlow community centre part of national funding of over €26 million for improvement and refurbishment works for 369 community centres across Ireland.

Rathoe Community Hall in County Carlow received funding of €100,000.

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The funding for the Community Hall is to be used for kitchen installation, fire alarm system, emergency lighting, upgrade timber flooring and install new solar panels.

Making the announcement, Minister Calleary said:

“The funding I am announcing today under the Community Centre Investment Fund will ensure that 369 communities across our cities, towns and villages will benefit from enhanced community facilities. This follows on from funding for over 400 facilities announced in November.

“Community Centres are the lifeblood of our communities. They play host to some of our most important occasions, in good times and in bad. Again in recent weeks we have seen the importance of these centres for their local communities as many of them became emergency hubs in the aftermath of storm Éowyn.

“The funding that my Department provides under the Community Centre Investment Fund will empower these communities to continue to provide that much needed communal space.

“Projects being funded today vary greatly depending on the needs identified by the various communities; some will see the fabric of their facilities improved through roof and insulation enhancements; others will see kitchen and toilet upgrades; while others will ensure their buildings are more accessible and energy efficient.

“Whatever improvement works are being completed, we can be sure that this funding is being targeted at the heart of communities, both rural and urban, and the results of these works will see our community facilities being more sustainable, enjoyable and accessible places.”