Many community centres across Ireland are set for significant upgrades thanks to exciting new investment.

Over €12.5 million has been pledged to support projects at almost 600 community centres.

The new Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) will support groups in every county to carry out refurbishments and improvements of their local community facility.

Grants of up to €25,000 will be provided to almost 600 groups in both rural and urban communities.

The funding will see improvements to community centres, GAA clubs, parish halls, youth centres, men's sheds and facilities used by the elderly.

Among the works will be heating system upgrades, the installation of new fittings, improvements to disability access, essential maintenance and much more.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD announced the funding during a visit to the Fettercairn Community and Youth Centre in Tallaght, which received Category 1 Funding.

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Making the announcement, Minister Humphreys said: "The local Community Centre is at the heart of our towns, villages and parishes all across this country.

"They come in many different shapes and sizes and are a place for people of all ages to meet up and socialise with friends, old and new.

"I want to support these great local facilities and that's why I launched the new Community Centre Investment Fund earlier this year. 

"The level of interest has been unprecedented under any scheme previously ran by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

"I am delighted today to announce over €12.5 million in funding for almost 600 projects nationwide. This funding will support Community Centres, Parish Halls, GAA Clubhouses, Youth Facilities, Men's Sheds and much more.

"I want to congratulate all of the successful groups who are receiving funding, which I know will benefit local communities for years to come.

"This particular strand of funding focused on small scale grants of up to €25,000. I am pleased to confirm that I will be announcing grants for larger scale projects later this year."

Welcoming the funding, Minister of State Joe O'Brien TD added: "I spend a significant amount of my time out and about visiting community groups throughout Ireland and I see first-hand the importance of community centres - that shared community space where people can gather to support each other, to work, to socialise, and to help to continue to develop their local community.

"There has been huge interest in the fund which has received a large number of applications and the increased funding we have secured in the Budget will ensure that the new fund has the biggest impact possible in local communities nationwide."