Local Enhancement Programme 2025

Sligo 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. 

The LEP 2025 Capital Funding will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas as 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 20th February 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 Local Economic Community Plan (LECP).

What level of funding is available?

• €123,765 Capital funding for use towards carrying out necessary repairs and improvements to facilities, energy efficiency type projects, purchase of equipment etc.
• €20,628 Current funding (non-pay) for use towards energy running/operating costs.

The Department has recommended that LCDCs ring-fence 30% of 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.  Maximum capital funding available is €5,000.
• 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 below. 

How to Apply

The Local Enhancement Programme is being administered using an online application. See link link hereunder:

Online applications must be signed by the Chairperson, Secretary, or Treasurer of the community group.  You must register on the Sligo County Council Online Portal before beginning your application.  You do not need to create a new registration if you have used the online portal previously, simply login.  

For any queries, please email LEP2025@Sligococo.ie or phone 071 911 4427.

Closing date for submission of online applications and all supporting documentation is 4pm on Friday 21st February 2025.

Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.