A GAA, athletics club, development association and secondary school have received funding under the latest round of the Community Recognition Fund.
The fund was set up 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.
In the latest round of funding, St Abban’s Athletics Club have received €60,210 to purchase new and upgrade existing athletics equipment.
€59,723 has been awarded to Ballyroan Community Development to develop an outdoor space with toilets and seating.
Clonaslee St Manman’s GAA have been awarded €84,100 for the development of a ball wall
While St Fergal’s Rathdowney have been given €60,849 for installing lights, kerbs and paths along the all-weather pitch.
The news means that, despite their pleas, Stradbally Town have missed out once again.
The first round of funding came in May of 2023 when over €1 million was dispersed between 48 projects across the county, including:
- Over €150,000 for an extension of the Emo Community Centre;
- €87,500 for upgrades at Rathdowney Community Centre;
- €68,000 for upgrades to St Mary’s Hall, Portlaoise,
- €68,600 for upgrades to Portarlington Leisure Centre.
The second round of funding came in august 2024 and saw €385,000 allocated as follows:
- €150,000 for repairs to St Mary’s Hall, Portlaoise;
- €100,000 for the acquisition of land in Mountmellick;
- €70,000 for a walking track in Ballylinan GAA;
- €65,000 for a development at Clochar Community Centre, Rathdowney.
In February of this year, the following projects were awarded funding of almost €310,000 in the latest round of allocations:
- €95,000 for playground enhancements in Rathdowney;
- €82,000 for tartan sprint lanes at the Emo/Rath athletics track;
- €80,000 for St Colman’s National School, Stradbally for a car park and outdoor toilet facilities at their new Astroturf pitch;
- €51,000 for Laois Partnership Company to purchase a mini bus.
Laois TD Sean Fleming welcomed the latest funding announcement.
He said: “This fund is to support local community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution by these communities in welcoming and hosting new arrivals from Ukraine and other Countries.
“This is a win/win for both the local communities and the new arrivals and the Government is pleased to support these projects.
“I want to thank the communities who applied for this funding.
“They will be able to now proceed with the purchase of new equipment, developing outdoor space and seating, a new ball wall and improving lighting and walking paths in their areas.”
SEE ALSO – HIQA halts admissions to Laois nursing home following RTE Investigates programme
