Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has outlined a package of over €150 million designed to transform rural towns, villages and communities throughout 2022.

Hosting a webinar entitled ‘Government Supports for Thriving Rural Areas and Vibrant Communities’, Minister Humphreys detailed the various funding streams within her department that will revitalise town centres, combat dereliction, promote remote working and enhance our communities.

The event was attended by over 300 stakeholders such as community groups, town teams, development associations and local chambers.

During the webinar, Minister Humphreys announced the introduction of a new Community Centres Investment Fund 2022.

This new capital fund will invest €15 million in the upgrade and refurbishment of community buildings across the country.

Under the fund, groups and organisations based in both rural and urban communities can apply for grants ranging from €10,000 to €300,000 and application forms will be available online in the coming weeks

Announcing the initiative, Minister Humphreys said: "If the pandemic taught us one thing, it’s that we all have discovered the true meaning of ‘community’.

“The new fund will provide grants for small and large-scale projects and help us to provide focal points for communities as they come back together. I will publish details on how local community groups can apply for this funding later this month," the minister added.

During the webinar, the minister and her officials outlined the details of other investment streams.

There was a detailed discussion on the areas where the department will be prioritising investment, such as: