Local Enhancement Programme 2025

Background

The Local Enhancement Programme 2025 is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Please see link to the press release announcing the Local Enhancement Programme 2025 at national level, by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities. Press Release

The Local Enhancement Programme 2025, with a national fund of €7m for capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations and €1m to aid with energy and running costs. The fund is aimed particularly those who serve disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2025 will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas to:

focus on small capital works/repairs/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use such as improved 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.
current funding is also available for Community groups to assist with their energy and running costs.

This funding will ensure local priorities are identified and met, so as to improve and enhance community facilities for all. All funding will be available to a diverse range of community groups including but not limited to Men’s and Women’s sheds/groups, community centres, parish halls and local voluntary groups.

Donegal LCDC will administer the Programme on behalf of the Department and have €303,465 available for award under the Scheme.

Rules

Local Enhancement Programme 2025 is open for application under three categories as follows:

Small Grant Running/Operating Costs (up to €500)
Grant for day-to-day operating/running costs (energy, insurance, heating costs etc.) for expenditure during period 1st June 2023-30th May 2025.
Small Capital Grant (€500- €1,000)
Grant for the Purchase of equipment, refurbishment or upgrade works for expenditure during period 6th January 2025 – 28th November 2025
Large Capital Grant (€5,000-€10,000)
Grant for the Purchase of equipment or to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to Community facilities for expenditure during period 6th January 2025 – 28th November 2025.

Groups must apply for funding to the Local Authority in which they are based, and applicants in Donegal can use the application form provided linked in the How to Apply section below.

Match-funding from other sources is not required in order to be approved for a grant.

Local Enhancement Programme 2025 Guidelines are linked below for further details.

Applicant groups must provide the following when submitting their application for funding:

Tax Registration (Charitable Status No, Tax Reference No or Tax Clearance Access No)
Bank or Credit Union Account Details (copy of recent Statement)

If your group is new or has any queries regarding Tax Registration or Bank/Credit Union Account status which may affect the drawdown of grant should your application be successful, please contact lep@donegalcoco.ie with your query before submitting your application.

The application form requires applicants to provide the co-ordinates of their proposed work/project. A guide to assist you with sourcing co-ordinates is linked below.

Applicants applying for the large grant are required to state the key priority area(s) in the LECP that their application relates to. A summary of the LECP 2023-2029 Draft Narrative is linked below.

Rates

The Programme will offer three levels of grant aid: