Press Release: Ministers announce support for over 4,100 projects benefitting community organisations countrywide under the Local Enhancement Programme 2026

Press Release

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Minister Jerry Buttimer and Minister Dara Calleary announce support for over 4,100 projects benefitting community organisations countrywide under the Local Enhancement Programme 2026

• Ministers announce successful projects under Local Enhancement Programme 2026
• Small grants to benefit community groups across the country
• 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 (Thursday, 2 July 2026) announced the successful projects under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2026.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2026 was launched in December 2025 and it will provide capital funding of €7 million to support projects that are essential for many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas. A total of over 4,100 individual projects will be funded, supporting thousands of community organisations across the country.

The Department of Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht’s Local Enhancement Programme 2026 is administered by Local Community Development Committees, with support from the Local Authority, in each area.

Announcing the successful projects today, Minister Buttimer said:

“The Local Enhancement Programme is all about supporting our local groups and clubs across the country, who are vital to Irish community life.

“Every day as Minister of State in this Department, I have the pleasure of meeting the people and groups that benefit from grants under the LEP.

“The approval of these small grants for over 4,100 projects will go a long way to support the fantastic work that is being done in communities all over Ireland.”

Also announcing the successful projects today, Minister Dara Calleary said:

“The impact of the Local Enhancement Programme is considerable, and it allows community groups to carry out the invaluable work they do on behalf of others in local areas throughout the country.

“It helps groups to improve their facilities through small-scale funding for a wide range of projects including minor renovations to buildings and the purchase of essential equipment for the maintenance of public areas. It also allows groups to purchase items such as IT equipment to enable groups to conduct their business.

“The Local Enhancement Programme 2026 builds on the support that has been provided to community groups through the previous iterations of the fund.

“As Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, I am delighted to be able to continue providing any support I can to community groups across the country.”

In conclusion, Minister Buttimer added:

“This Government is committed to supporting local communities to shape their own futures. The funding I am announcing today will ensure that important work can continue to be delivered by communities on the ground and I’m delighted that every single county will benefit.

“I would like to thank each County Council and the Local Community Development Committees for their assistance in administering this fund.”

LEP 2026 Funding for each Local Authority area

A full list of the successful projects in each local authority is available here.

Preasráiteas

Déardaoin, an 2 Iúil 2026

Fógraíonn Airí tacaíocht do bhreis is 4,100 tionscadal a rachaidh chun tairbhe eagraíochtaí pobail ar fud na tíre faoi Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026

• Fógraíonn Airí na tionscadail a gheobhaidh maoiniú faoi Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026
• Deontais bheaga a rachaidh chun tairbhe grúpaí pobail ar fud na tíre
• Tacú le grúpaí pobail mar phríomhfhócas de ‘Ár dTodhchaí Tuaithe’

Inniu (Déardaoin, an 2 Iúil 2026) d’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus  Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, agus an tAire Stáit atá freagrach as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD, na tionscadail a gheobhaidh maoiniú faoi Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026.

Seoladh Clár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026 i mí na Nollag 2025 agus cuirfear maoiniú caipitil €7 milliún ar fáil chun tacú le tionscadail atá riachtanach do go leor grúpaí agus eagraíochtaí pobail beaga, go háirithe iad siúd a fhreastalaíonn ar cheantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste i gceantair thuaithe agus uirbeacha. Maoineofar breis is 4,100 tionscadal aonair san iomlán, ag tacú leis na mílte eagraíocht phobail ar fud na tíre.

Tá Clár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026 an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta á riaradh ag Coistí Forbartha Pobail Áitiúla, le tacaíocht ón Údarás Áitiúil, i ngach ceantar.

Ag fógairt na dtionscadal a gheobhaidh maoiniú inniu, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:

“Faoin gClár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil, tacaítear lenár ngrúpaí agus clubanna áitiúla ar fud na tíre, atá ríthábhachtach do shaol phobail na hÉireann.”

“Gach lá mar Aire Stáit sa Roinn seo, bíonn an-áthas orm bualadh leis na daoine agus na grúpaí a bhaineann leas as deontais faoin gClár. 

“Tacóidh ceadú na ndeontas beag seo do bhreis is 4,100 tionscadal leis an obair iontach atá ar siúl i bpobail ar fud na hÉireann.”

Ag fógairt na dtionscadal a gheobhaidh maoiniú inniu, dúirt an tAire Calleary:

“Tá tionchar suntasach ag an gClár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil, agus tugtar deis ann do ghrúpaí pobail an obair luachmhar a dhéanann siad a dhéanamh thar ceann daoine eile i gceantair áitiúla ar fud na tíre.

“Cabhraíonn sé le grúpaí a gcuid áiseanna a fheabhsú trí mhaoiniú ar scála beag do raon leathan tionscadal lena n-áirítear athchóirithe beaga ar fhoirgnimh agus ceannach trealaimh riachtanach chun limistéir phoiblí a chothabháil. Ceadaíonn sé freisin do ghrúpaí earraí ar nós trealamh TF a cheannach chun go mbeidh siad in ann a ngnó a dhéanamh.

“Tógann Clár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026 ar an tacaíocht a cuireadh ar fáil do ghrúpaí pobail trí leaganacha eile den chiste a bhí ann roimhe seo.

“Mar Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, tá an-áthas orm a bheith in ann leanúint de thacaíocht a chur ar fáil do ghrúpaí pobail ar fud na tíre.”

Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:

“Tá an Rialtas seo tiomanta do thacaíocht a thabhairt do phobail áitiúla chun a dtodhchaí féin a mhúnlú. Cinnteoidh an maoiniú atá á fhógairt agam inniu gur féidir le pobail leanúint de bheith i mbun oibre tábhachtaí ar an talamh, agus tá an-áthas orm go mbainfidh gach contae leas as.

“Gabhaim buíochas le gach Comhairle Contae agus leis na Coistí Áitiúla Forbartha Pobail as a gcuid cúnaimh maidir le riaradh an chiste seo.”

Maoiniú Chlár Feabhsúcháin Áitiúil 2026 do gach Ceantar Údaráis Áitiúil

Tá liosta iomlán de na tionscadail a gheobhaidh maoiniú i ngach údarás áitiúil ar fáil anseo.