Approximately 278 community centres nationwide have secured shared investment of over €33 million for upgrades.

The announcement under the new Community Centre Investment Fund represents the largest ever capital investment in upgrading community centres and will see grants of between €25,000 to €300,000 provided to successful projects.

This investment will support upgrades, renovations and refurbishments at Community Centres, Parish Halls, Scouts Clubs, Youth Hubs, Family Resources Centres and Sports Complexes across the country. Some of the works will include extensions, retrofitting, disability access improvements, lighting upgrades and much more.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, along with the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD, announced the funding at Hartstown Sports and Leisure Centre in Dublin 15 today, 08 December.

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Speaking in Hartstown today, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: "This Government and the last showed time and again that we're committed to community development. 

"I'm delighted to see this ground-breaking investment in community centres. It will bring real improvements to the heart of communities across Ireland.

"In time, I think it will become as significant as the Sport Capital Programme which has brought local sporting facilities up a level that would have been unimaginable 20 years ago. 

"The benefits will be felt in Community Centres, Parish and Scouts Halls, Clubhouses, Men's Sheds and Youth Facilities.

"Every county in Ireland will receive funding, for projects like new meeting rooms, refurbished and warmer buildings, new social hubs, and improved disability access."

Announcing the overall investment, Minister Humphreys added: "The local community centre is at the heart of our towns, villages and parishes right across the country.

"Our Community Centres come in many different shapes and sizes and provide a wide and diverse range of services and activities.

"The Community Centre is where the children go to play sport; it's where meals are provided for our senior citizens; it's where the local dramatic society perform; it's where the ICA, our Men’s Sheds, Youth Clubs and other local organisation come together for their meetings and events.

"Most importantly in the month of December – the Community Centre is often the place that Santa will come to visit to meet the local children!

"It was a priority for me as Minister for Rural and Community Development to put this new funding stream in place and I am delighted to announce the successful projects today."