Waterford City and County Council has officially opened applications for the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2026.

This initiative, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, is designed to provide essential capital support to local organisations, with a specific emphasis on aiding disadvantaged urban and rural communities.

For the 2026 cycle, Waterford has been allocated a total of €219,286.41. The funding is earmarked for small-scale capital projects, including facility improvements, necessary building repairs, and the purchase of equipment.

Cllr. Seamus Ryan, Mayor of Waterford City and County and Chair of Waterford LCDC, welcomed the announcement: "The Local Enhancement Programme provides vital support to community groups and organisations to improve their facilities or purchasing equipment, allowing them to continue to provide invaluable services to the people in their area."

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The impact of the scheme was evident in 2025, where 150 different groups across the county received support. One such beneficiary was Ballyduff AFC, which used a €500 grant to upgrade its Academy equipment.

Paul Cleary, Chairperson of Ballyduff AFC, noted the importance of the scheme: "We were delighted to receive €500 through the Local Enhancement Programme, which allowed us to purchase two sets of robust mini/goals for our Academy. These goals are now used daily at our club by boys, girls and children with disabilities, and they have made a real difference in providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for young children taking their first steps in football. Support like this is hugely important for grassroots clubs like ourselves and has a lasting impact on our local community."

Application and Information Details

To assist potential applicants, several information sessions have been scheduled:

• Online Webinar: Thursday, 5 February 2026 at 2:00pm (facilitated by Waterford PPN).

• Central Library, Lady Lane: Tuesday, 10 February from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

• Dungarvan Library: Thursday, 12 February from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

Orla Kelly, Administrative Officer at Waterford City and County Council, encouraged local groups to engage with the process, stating that the grants "make a big difference" to the vital work done at the grassroots level.

The closing date for all applications is 4:00pm on Friday, 27 February 2026. Full details and application forms are available on the council's website at www.waterfordcouncil.ie/LEP.