Press Release
Minister Calleary opens the newly refurbished Inner-City Enterprise (ICE) Centre in Dublin 7
- Funding of €486,200 was provided under the Community Recognition Fund for refurbishment at Inner-City Enterprise Centre (ICE)
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Wednesday, 17 June 2026) visited Coleraine Street to officially open the newly refurbished Inner-City Enterprise Centre in Dublin 7.
The Inner-City Enterprise Centre was awarded funding under the Community Recognition Fund 2024. The Fund was introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. To date, €100 million has been allocated to support cities, towns, and villages across the country with Dublin City Council having been allocated over €4.5 million towards 52 projects under the Fund.
This project received €486,200 to fund refurbishment and improvement works to a once derelict former housing depot in Dublin 7, providing a space where ideas can flourish, where collaboration can thrive and where people from all backgrounds and ages can come together to share experiences and build meaningful connections.
Also, the Hub on the Hill, home of Inner-City Enterprise Centre, is onboarded to the Connectedhubs.ie online platform which provides hub owners and customers with a central, easy to use portal that offers and enables the booking and payment for a range of services, particularly professional remote working spaces and meeting rooms. The platform is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and managed by the Western Development Commission.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Calleary said:
“I am delighted to see the extensive work that has been completed through the Community Recognition Fund, creating a fully accessible, modern and welcoming space that can be used for training programmes, community activities, social events and a wide range of local initiatives.
“This project demonstrates how investment in local infrastructure can revitalise neglected spaces and turn them into valuable community assets.”
The Community Recognition Fund has provided some €100 million to support a range of projects in villages, towns and cities which have welcomed new arrivals.
Projects supported through the fund include the refurbishment of community facilities, like this Inner-City Enterprise Centre, in addition to children’s play spaces and sensory spaces, the provision of and enhancement of recreational trails and sports facilities, and transport supports for communities across the country.
Over 1,000 projects approved under the fund have now been completed and communities nationwide are enjoying the benefits that this funding has delivered. Significant progress is being made on the remaining projects, the majority of which will be completed this year.
The Minister concluded:
“Through programmes like The Community Recognition Fund, my Department continues to deliver meaningful change in our cities, towns and villages.
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition. Your vision, commitment and hard work have created a facility that will serve the community for many years to come.”
Preasráiteas
Osclaíonn an tAire Calleary Ionad Fiontraíochta Lár na Cathrach
a athchóiríodh le déanaí i mBaile Átha Cliath 7
- Cuireadh maoiniú €486,200 ar fáil faoin gCiste Aitheantais Pobail le haghaidh athchóiriú Ionad Fiontraíochta Lár na Cathrach
Inniu, Dé Céadaoin, an 17 Meitheamh 2026, thug an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, cuairt ar Shráid Chúil Raithin chun Ionad Fiontraíochta Lár na Cathrach a athchóiríodh le déanaí i mBaile Átha Cliath 7 a oscailt go hoifigiúil.
Bronnadh maoiniú ar Ionad Fiontraíochta Lár na Cathrach faoin gCiste Aitheantais Pobail 2024. Tugadh isteach an Ciste in 2023 chun aitheantas a thabhairt do na hiarrachtaí ollmhóra a rinne pobail chun fáilte a chur roimh dhaoine a thagann go hÉirinn agus chun tacú leo. Go dtí seo, leithdháileadh €100 milliún chun tacú le cathracha, bailte agus sráidbhailte ar fud na tíre agus leithdháileadh breis is €4.5 mhilliún ar Chomhairle Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath i dtreo 52 thionscadal faoin gCiste.
Fuarthas €486,200 don tionscadal seo chun oibreacha athchóirithe agus feabhsúcháin a mhaoiniú ar sheanstóras tithíochta tréigthe i mBaile Átha Cliath 7, rud a chuireann spás ar fáil inar féidir le smaointe teacht faoi bhláth, inar féidir comhoibriú a dhéanamh agus inar féidir le daoine ó gach cúlra agus aois teacht le chéile chun eispéiris a roinnt agus naisc fhiúntacha a thógáil.
Chomh maith leis sin, tá an Mol ar an gCnoc, áit a bhfuil Ionad Fiontraíochta Lár na Cathrach lonnaithe, ceangailte le hardán ar líne Connectedhubs.ie a sholáthraíonn tairseach lárnach, éasca le húsáid d’úinéirí agus do chustaiméirí moil a chuireann ar chumas áirithint agus íoc as raon seirbhísí, go háirithe spásanna oibre iargúlta gairmiúla agus seomraí cruinnithe. Maoiníonn an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta an t-ardán agus bainistíonn Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair é.
Ag labhairt ag an oscailt, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Tá áthas orm an obair mhór a cuireadh i gcrích tríd an gCiste Aitheantais Pobail a fheiceáil, rud a chruthaíonn spás inrochtana, nua-aimseartha agus fáilteach is féidir a úsáid le haghaidh clár oiliúna, gníomhaíochtaí pobail, imeachtaí sóisialta agus raon leathan tionscnamh áitiúil.
“Léirítear sa tionscadal seo conas is féidir le hinfheistíocht i mbonneagar áitiúil spásanna a ndearnadh neamhaird díobh a athbheochan agus acmhainní luachmhara pobail a dhéanamh díobh.”
Cuireadh thart ar €100 milliún ar fáil faoin gCiste Aitheantais Phobail chun tacú le raon tionscadal i sráidbhailte, i mbailte agus i gcathracha a chuireann fáilte roimh dhaoine nua.
I measc na dtionscadal a fhaigheann tacaíocht tríd an gciste tá athchóiriú áiseanna pobail, amhail an tIonad Fiontraíochta Lárchathrach seo, chomh maith le spásanna súgartha do leanaí agus spásanna céadfacha, soláthar agus feabhsú conairí áineasa agus áiseanna spóirt, agus tacaíochtaí iompair do phobail ar fud na tíre.
Cuireadh breis is 1,000 tionscadal a ceadaíodh faoin gciste i gcrích agus tá pobail ar fud na tíre ag baint taitnimh as na buntáistí a bhaineann leis an maoiniú seo. Tá dul chun cinn suntasach á dhéanamh ar na tionscadail atá le cur i gcrích, agus cuirfear formhór díobh i gcrích i mbliana.
Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt an tAire:
“Trí chláir cosúil leis an gCiste Aitheantais Pobail, leanann mo Roinnse de bheith ag seachadadh athruithe suntasacha inár gcathracha, inár mbailte agus inár sráidbhailte.
“Déanaim comhghairdeas le gach duine a ghlac páirt i dtabhairt an tionscadail seo chun críche. Chruthaigh bhur bhfís, bhur dtiomantas agus bhur n-obair chrua saoráid a úsáidfidh an pobal ar feadh na mblianta fada ar fáil.”