Cork City Council and the Cork City Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) are honoured this year that the Minister of State, Jerry Buttimer T.D. at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, has chosen Cork City, and particularly Togher Family Centre, to announce the successful community and voluntary projects applicants across the state who will receive DRCDG, LCDC, Local Enhancement Programme Grants 2025.
The Minister announced the LEP Grants 2025 in the Togher Family Centre, Maglin Grove, Togher, this morning, surrounded by community volunteers and leaders, Family Centre Staff and children, the Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle, LCDC members and Cork City Council staff.
In announcing the grants, Minister of State, Jerry Buttimer said. “The Community and Voluntary Sector have shaped my vision of Community Development over the decades through my strong connections and work with it. Whilst I announce these national Government Grants, in my first year as Minister of State, it is important for me to announce them in the place that shaped that vision, Cork City. This was consolidated by my knowledge of the level, length and professional service, I know, is delivered here in Togher Family Centre to the children of this community and beyond”.
The LEP Funding grants are designed to ensure local priorities are identified and met, so as to improve and enhance community facilities for all.
This funding nationally invests €7 Million in local communities across the state. It consisted of €6 million in capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas.
A further €1 million will be put to good use by Community Groups, to assist with their energy and running costs, to help them continue their important work within the community.
Community Groups across Cork City will benefit from its total allocation of €284,887 including, as a sample from each ward area below:
| North East
Respond Day Care for Older People for ‘purchase of Mini bus to create a local link’ receiving €10,000 – HSE match funding of €10,000 North West Cork Community Art Link for ‘install new electrical fittings, upgrade fire safety equipment and improve its access areas’ receiving €9,295 South Central Coolmine TC for ‘to upgrade electrical works to bring it to a safe standard’ receiving €7,500 South East Mahon Association CLG for ‘roof insulation and ventilation, painting main hall, provision of tables and chairs and photocopier’ receiving €7,311.54 South West Togher Community Garden for ‘to install a runway from park path to polytunnel for wheelchair accessibility and extension to polytunnel’ receiving €7,321 |
The Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr Dan Boyle, stated, “this is a very welcome announcement today for the many community groups who rely heavily on these annual grants. Community groups across the city make huge impacts on all of our lives day in and day out. This funding compliments their huge efforts to support the people of Cork, especially from dis-advantaged communities. It builds community resilience, cohesion and makes our city a more welcoming and safer place to live, work and visit”.
Dr. Niamh Sheridan, Director of the Togher Family Centre, who hosted the Minister this morning, said, “Togher Family Centre was delighted and honoured to host the Minister of State, Jerry Buttimer, T.D. in making this announcement. We pride ourselves on the level of service, care, education and love that is afforded every child, their parents and members of the community who use our centre and the fact that the Minister of State chose this centre, is an endorsement of our policy of inclusion and quality care”.
The Cork City LEP Grant allocation is administered locally by the Cork City Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and LCDC Chairperson, Denis Leamy, thanked the Minister of State for launching it in Cork City and added, “the LCDC welcome this annual funding scheme for community groups to develop greater quality community services and build on their work for all of the people of the city”.
Cork City Council support the LCDC in its work on this grant scheme and Rebecca Loughry, Director of Services in the Corporate, Community and Cultural Affairs Directorate of Cork City Council, noted how this fund compliments the Cork City Council’s own annual Community Development Grants. She stated, ”Shared National and Local Government funding creates a synergy to enhance community development across the city increasing access to equality and services in our community by those who are best placed to deliver it on the ground in partnership with the LCDC and Cork City Council, the Community and Voluntary Sector”.
