There's €285,000 in funding available for Kerry community groups but applications will have to get their paperwork in by the February 28 deadline. 

Kerry County Council is inviting applications from community groups in the county for the €285,000 Community Activities Fund for 2022.

The fund will support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their non-pay running costs, for example utility bills or other non-pay operating costs including rental and lease costs, insurance bills.

The Community Activities Fund (CAF), which is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development, forms parts of the Community Enhancement Programme.

Today’s announcement follows the launch last week of the €750,000 Community Support Fund, which is now in its eighth year.

The call for applications to the CAF was made this week by the Chairperson of the Kerry Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Cllr Norma Moriarty who visited Cumann Tithíochta na Dromada in Dromid, which has benefited from such funding in recent years.

"This is a really targeted fund in that it supports running costs for community centres and facilities which can often be very onerous for voluntary groups," she said.

"The Community Department at Kerry County Council is available to assist applicants and I hope that groups will apply for this important source of funding over the coming weeks."

Groups will also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities, purchase equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, defibrillators, canopies and training equipment.

Application forms and more information is now available on the Kerry County Council website, www.kerrycoco.ie and from the Community Department 066 7183680.