Community Centres in Laois receive over €780,000 in funding

THREE community centres in Laois are the big winners in the recently announced €783,172 that has been allocated to 11 community centres in Laois.

Clonaslee Community Centre, Killeshin Community Centre and Mountmellick Macra Na Feirme Community Hall each received €100,000 from the government’s Community Centre Investment Fund.

The other eight centres that received funding were Rathdowney Community Centre (€94,760); Hawthorn Community Building (€85,006); Portarlington Union of Parishes Parochial Community Hall (€83,009); Cullohill Community Centre (€72,335); Clonad GAA Club Community Centre (€45,468); An Croí Community Centre (€39,308); Castletown Community Centre (€34,684); Killeen Community Hall (€28,602).

The funds will be used to upgrade the community centres facilities such as improving accessibility, the installation of energy efficient lighting, replacement roofs and floors, the replacement of windows, the provision of new heating systems, walls and roof insulations and safety enhancement works.

Welcoming the news local TD Sean Fleming said: “These grants will help the 11 centres in Laois fund refurbishment, upgrading of facilities, roof and floor repairs, solar PV panels, upgrading of kitchens, window replacements, insulation works, and heating systems.

“These very substantial grants will help ensure these improvements works can go ahead as quickly as possible.” 

He said: “I especially want to thank all the voluntary committees involved in these community centres for their ongoing work to improve facilities for their local communities.

“Community Centres are the lifeblood of our local communities, it is important that they be maintained to the highest standard.”

 “The new Programme for Government ensures this new Community Investment Fund will provide a rolling fund to upgrade and refurbish local community centres on an ongoing basis, said the Castletown based TD.