Department of Rural and Community Development

Local Enhancement Programme 2025

Introduction

The Local Enhancement Programme 2025, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development will open Monday 6th January 2025 for applications from community groups for capital supports and/or current funding essential for the many small community/voluntary groups particularly those who serve disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas. Please see here the press release announcing the Local Enhancement Programme 2025 at national level, by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD

What is the purpose of the Fund?

The Programme is designed to provide both capital and current funding support to a wide and diverse range of local groups, including Men’s and Women’s Sheds/Groups. Roscommon County Council has been allocated a total of €153,830 in funding for Groups across the County (€131,854 in Capital Funding, €21,976 in Current Funding). In order to ensure there is sufficient flexibility to allow funding to be targeted to where it is needed, in each Local Authority area, it will be administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs).

The Local Enhancement Programme will provide:

1. Capital funding for use towards carrying out necessary repairs and improvements to facilities, energy efficiency type projects, purchase of equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment etc.

The following categories of Capital funding will be available:

• Small grants - Capital Funding of min €1,000
• Medium grants - Capital Funding from €1,001 to €5,000

 2. Current Funding for running costs only incurred in the period 1st June 2024 to 30th May 2025 such as energy costs or other non-pay operating costs e.g. rental/lease costs, energy bills, insurance bills.

All applications will be assessed by the LCDC to ensure eligibility and that they are targeted at addressing disadvantage as identified in its LECP. Applicants will be notified of the results in May 2025.

Supporting Documentation Required as part of the Application:

 Failure to provide the required documentation will render the application invalid.

Applications

Click  to access the online application which is now live. Closing date has now been extended to Wednesday 5th February.

The LEP2025 application process is online only. If you do not have an existing My Online Services account you must create an account first. Click here to view a guide on setting up an account 

If you have any queries in relation to this grant scheme please email lep2025@roscommoncoco.ie

Further Information

Please review the presentation from our online Webinar for further details on the programme. A step by step training on how to complete the application form can be viewed here.

A comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions documents is available below and if you have any query not addressed within please email lep2025@roscommoncoco.ie