Media Release: Ministers Calleary and Buttimer announce new €7 million Local Enhancement Programme 2026

Preasráiteas: €7 milliún nua faoin Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026 fógartha ag na hAirí Calleary agus Buttimer

Ministers Calleary and Buttimer announce new €7 million Local Enhancement Programme 2026

• €7 million fund to assist thousands of community groups across the country
• Local Enhancement Programme to focus on disadvantaged areas
• Supporting community groups a key focus of ‘Our Rural Future’

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, have today (Friday, 5 December) announced €7 million in funding under the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2026.

This funding will provide capital supports that are essential for many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas.

There will be a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used for, but is not limited to; improving access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.

The scheme is designed to ensure local priorities are identified and met, to improve and enhance community facilities for all. Funding will be available to a diverse range of community groups including, but not limited to, community centres, parish halls and local voluntary groups.

Minister Calleary said:

“Today, together with Minister Buttimer, I am delighted to announce a new round of funding of €7million for the Local Enhancement Programme. This funding that will support thousands of small but vital community groups across the country.

“Since becoming the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, I have had the pleasure of visiting many of these communities groups and have and felt the vibrancy that is exists within them. I really commend these community groups and their hard-working committees for their volunteerism and for providing valuable spaces that strengthen bonds and maintain the fabric of communities.

“Supporting local communities to shape their future is a key focus of the government’s current rural development policy, ‘Our Rural Future’. A consultation process is currently open to inform the development of the next iteration of this policy and I encourage people to share their views on what matters most for rural Ireland and its people.

“The LEP funding I am announcing today will benefit people in every single county across the country and will ensure that a wide range of important small scale, ground-up projects can be delivered to the areas that need them most, by committed people serving their local communities.

“I encourage all interested groups to get in touch with their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) that administers the fund in their area.”

Also announcing the funding today on a visit to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork, where both Cork City and County have been allocated over €500,000 in LEP funding in 2026, Minister Buttimer said:

“I am delighted to announce the latest iteration of the Local Enhancement Programme funding which will help our community groups to realise the ambitions they have to improve and enhance their facilities and equipment for the benefit of their communities. These groups are immensely proud of their areas and are committed to building resilient communities through services, resources, and facilities.

“It gives me great pleasure as Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities to be able to support community groups across Ireland in the fantastic work that they do on a daily basis.

“We can see by the fantastic work that has been completed here in Cork City that the LEP funding provided by my Department can deliver real tangible support to groups where they need it most.

“I also want to acknowledge the work of the local authorities who support communities throughout the year, fostering environments where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to thrive. We will continue to work together so that we can build strong, vibrant spaces for all members of our communities.”

LEP 2026 Funding allocation for each Local Authority area

Preasráiteas: €7 milliún nua faoin Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026 fógartha ag na hAirí Calleary agus Buttimer

• Ciste €7 milliún chun tacú leis na mílte grúpaí pobail ar fud na tíre
• Clár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil le díriú ar cheantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste
• Tacaíocht do ghrúpaí pobail mar thosaíocht do ‘Ár dTodhchaí Thuaithe’

D’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, agus an tAire Stáit le freagracht as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD, inniu (Dé hAoine, 5 Nollaig) go gcuirfear maoiniú €7 milliún ar fáil faoin Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil (CFÁ) 2026 de chuid na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta.

Leis an mhaoiniú seo, cuirfear tacaíochtaí caipitil ar fáil atá bunriachtanach do mhórán grúpaí agus eagraíochtaí pobail beaga, go háirithe iad siúd a fhreastalaíonn ar phobail faoi mhíbhuntáiste i gceantair thuaithe agus uirbeacha.

Beidh béim ar leith ar oibreacha caipitil/feabhsúcháin bheaga, agus ar threalamh a cheannach chun úsáide poiblí. D’fhéadfadh go n-úsáidfear an maoiniú i gcomhair na nithe seo, ach gan a bheith teoranta dóibh; rochtain a fheabhsú do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas; rannpháirtíocht phobail a fheabhsú i measc grúpaí faoi mhíbhuntáiste nó grúpaí imeallaithe, agus éifeachtúlacht fuinnimh a fheabhsú in áiseanna pobail chun costais leanúnacha a laghdú.

Dearadh an scéim le cinntiú go sainaithnítear tosaíochtaí áitiúla agus go bhfreastalaítear orthu, chun áiseanna pobail a fheabhsú do chách. Beidh maoiniú ar fáil do réimse éagsúil grúpaí pobail lena n-áireofar, ach gan a bheith teoranta dóibh, ionaid phobail, hallaí paróiste, agus grúpaí deonacha áitiúla.

Dúirt an tAire Calleary:

“Inniu, in éineacht leis an Aire Buttimer, is cúis áthais dom babhta nua maoinithe de €7 milliún a fhógairt don Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil. Tacófar leis na mílte grúpaí pobail beaga bunriachtanacha ar fud na tíre leis an maoiniú seo.

“Ó rinneadh Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta díom, bhí sé de phléisiúr agam cuairt a thabhairt ar mhórán de na grúpaí pobail seo agus d’aithin mé an bheocht atá iontu. Molaim go mór na grúpaí pobail seo agus a gcoistí díograiseacha as a saorálaíochas agus as spásanna luachmhara a chur ar fáil ina ndéantar ceangail a dhaingniú agus creatlach pobal a chothabháil.

“Tacaítear le pobail áitiúla chun a dtodhchaí a mhúnlú, mar phríomhthosaíocht de bheartas forbartha tuaithe an rialtais, ‘Ár dTodhchaí Thuaithe’. Tá próiseas comhairliúcháin ar oscailt faoi láthair chun eolas a dhéanamh d’fhorbairt an chéad leagan eile den bheartas seo, agus molaim do dhaoine a dtuairimí a chur in iúl faoi cad atá tábhachtach do cheantair agus muintir thuaithe na hÉireann.

“Rachaidh an maoiniú CFÁ atá á fhógairt agam inniu chun tairbhe daoine i ngach uile contae ar fud na tíre agus beifear in ann réimse leathan tionscadal pobail tábhachtach beag a thabhairt i gcrích sna ceantair ina bhfuil an gá is géire leo, trí dhaoine díograiseacha ag obair ina bpobail áitiúla.

“Molaim do gach páirtí leasmhar teagmháil a dhéanamh lena gCoiste um Fhorbairt Phobail Áitiúil (LCDC) atá ag riar an chiste ina gceantar.”

Agus é ag fógairt an mhaoinithe inniu le linn a cuairte ar Pháirc Uí Chaoimh i gCorcaigh, áit a fuair cathair agus contae Chorcaí maoiniú CFÁ de bheagnach €300,000 in 2025, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:

“Is cúis áthais dom an leagan is déanaí den Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil a fhógairt, trína gcuideofar lenár ngrúpaí pobail a spriocanna a bhaint amach ó thaobh a n-áiseanna agus trealamh a fheabhsú ar mhaithe lena bpobail. Tá fíorbhród ag na grúpaí seo as a gceantair agus tá siad tiomanta do phobail athléimneacha a chothú trí sheirbhísí, acmhainní, agus áiseanna.

“Is mór an pléisiúr dom mar Aire Stáit le freagracht as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí a bheith in ann tacú le grúpaí pobail ar fud na hÉireann sa tsárobair atá á déanamh acu ar bhonn laethúil.

“Feicimid ón tsárobair atá déanta anseo i gCathair Chorcaí gur féidir leis an maoiniú CFÁ, arna chur ar fáil ag mo Roinn féin, fíorthacaíocht fhollasach a thabhairt do ghrúpaí in áiteanna ina bhfuil an gá is mó léi.

“Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt freisin d’obair na n-údarás áitiúil a thacaíonn le pobail i rith na bliana, agus a chothaíonn timpeallachtaí ina mothaíonn daoine go bhfuil siad ag ceangal le chéile, go bhfuil tacaíocht acu, agus go bhfuil de chumas acu teacht faoi bhláth. Leanfaidh muid de bheith ag obair le chéile ionas gur féidir linn spásanna láidre bríomhara a fhorbairt do gach ball dár bpobail.”

CFÁ 2026 Leithdháileadh maoinithe de réir an limistéir Údaráis Áitiúil