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By Michelle Crean

Funding of €6,970 has been awarded to community groups in Killarney under the first round of the Community Enhancement Programme for 2020.

Kilcummin Looking Good are to receive €750, Kerry Parents & Friends Association Killarney €1,000, Kerry Parents & Friends Association Online Education Provision Team are to get €1,000, Ballydribeen Residents Association Killarney €1,000, Social Action Group, Rathmore CLG €1,500, Killarney Men's Shed €470, Killarney Water Rescue €750, while Killarney Celtic Football Club will receive €500.

The programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Overall in Kerry €62,000 has been awarded to 72 groups under the first round of the Community Enhancement Programme for 2020.

Chairperson of the Local Community Development Committee, Cllr Niall Kelleher, said that the range of projects supported include COVID-19 capital related expenditure, hand hygiene and safety measures at public amenities, purchase of IT equipment for community usage and to facilitate training for older people, improvements works to create safe outdoor recreation spaces, accessibility projects, home maintenance programmes, provision of comfortable, safe meeting spaces for older people.

“This financial support for community and voluntary organisations across the county is most welcome and will complement grants provided under a range of other programmes. This kind of support is more essential than ever in a year in which community groups have made an immense contribution to the local response effort on COVID-19,” he said.

A second round of funding has been made available by the Department under the Community Enhancement Programme. Over €155,000 is available and the closing date for applications is this coming Monday (September 21). Full details of the application process are available on the Council’s website www.kerrycoco.ie.