Local Enhancement Programme 2025

Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025

The Local Enhancement Programme 2025 is open for applications. To apply, complete your online application now.

Deadline for submission of online applications and all supporting documentation is 4pm on Thursday 30 January 2025. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Do not spend before you formally accept any grant offer.

Longford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) invites applications from community groups for funding under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025.

The LEP 2025 is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Please see the following 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.

The LEP 2025 Capital Funding will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas as per the Pobal Hasse deprivation index, to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities, and/or to purchase equipment, such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment, and so on.  

The LEP 2025 Current Funding will support groups/organisations with their non-pay running costs such as energy costs (electricity costs, refuse charges, heating charges) or other non-pay operating costs for e.g. rental lease costs, insurance bills. To ensure appropriate monitoring and governance, the Department is stating that only operating/running costs related to the period 1 June 2024 to 30 May 2025 are eligible.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any not-for-profit community or voluntary group can apply.

Target groups

This funding is targeted towards supporting communities that are impacted by disadvantage as identified in the County Longford Local Economic and Community Plan 2023 - 2029 (LECP).

What level of funding is available?

• €123,354 Capital funding for use towards carrying out necessary repairs and improvements to facilities, energy efficiency type projects, purchase of equipment etc.
• €21,832 Current funding (Non-Pay) for use towards energy running/operating costs.
• The Department has recommended that LCDCs ring-fence 30% funding to provide small capital grants of €1,000 or less. Ring-fencing funding at this level will allow a larger volume of those with limited resources to receive some funding.
• The programme can also fund or partially fund larger scale projects to address disadvantage.  
• If the Programme is oversubscribed, all applications fulfilling the conditions may not be successful or offers of funding may be for a lesser amount than that sought by the applicant.
• In deciding the final allocations of funding to projects, the LCDC may take account of a number of factors including geographical balance and the desirability to fund a variety of different projects and the relative disadvantage of the area where the facility is located (or will serve).
• See Application Guidelines for further details including selection criteria.

How to Apply

The Local Enhancement Programme is being administered using an online application.

Online applications must be completed by the chairperson, secretary, or treasurer of the community group. You are advised to start your online application as soon as possible. You do not have to complete it all in the one go, you can pause and save it in draft format at any time. When you have completed your application form, you can then submit it. 

Before starting your application, you should: 

• Familiarise yourself with the Terms and Conditions and the Application Guidelines 
• Have your Tax Reference Number (TRN) ready. If your Community Group does do not have a TRN yet, please see TR3 form here
  (NOTE - A TRN is required by Longford County Council to verify tax clearance status if applicable and will also be used when submitting returns to Revenue as required)
• Have your Irish Transverse Mercator (ITM) co-ordinates ready. These can be found using the Irish Grid Reference Finder, and you can follow this simple guide to help you find your co-ordinates
• Register with Longford Public Participation Network
• Seek THREE separate quotations to upload with your application. Otherwise, your application will be deemed INCOMPLETE and will not be considered for funding.

You can pause and save your online application form in draft format at any time, prior to pressing the ‘submit’ button.

Deadline for submission of online applications and all supporting documentation is 4pm on Thursday 30 January 2025.

Help with your application 

Here are 3 short videos from a similar online grant scheme which may be of help to you and your group:

• help applicants register, 
• navigate the application process, and
• going back to access a draft at a later stage

Further information

For any queries, please email LCDC@longfordcoco.ie or call 043 334 34 72, 043 344 33 07 or 043 334 33 11.

Data Privacy 

The purpose of processing personal data collected on this application form is to assist Longford LCDC and Longford County Council manage and administer your application. We process this Personal Data under Article (6)(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), 'processing is necessary for the performance of the contract to which that data subject is party'. Further information on how Longford County Council process your personal data and your rights can be found on our Privacy Policy available on Longfordcoco.ie.