Seven Offaly towns and villages get major funding boost today
Seven towns and villages in Offaly will benefit from €800,000 announced as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme today.
Projects in Ferbane, Pullough, Mountbolus, Mucklagh, Clonygowan, Daingean, Kilmalogue in Portlarlington were all successful in the latest funding tranche, announced by Minister Heather Humphreys.
The projects supported will allow for more remote working, regeneration of older buildings, improvements to walkways, parks and improvements to public realm in response to Covid-19.
In Ferbane, €200,000 has been allocated for what's described as “public realm regeneration” including the development of the town's Old Fire Station site, Heritage Centre area and improvements to the Mass Path looped walk.
The six other projects all receive €100,000 for a variety of developments, including the upgradeof footpaths, lighting and signage in Pullough to improve accessibility to the Cycle Café from the Grand Canal Greenway.
In Clonygowan, enhancement of the Fair Green area is proposed, including a provision of a safe outdoor gathering space and to regularise car parking.
A variety of other public realm improvements are earmarked for the other areas covering landscaping, footpaths, seating and public lighting.
Welcoming the news, Fine Gael Cllr John Clendennen said: “Offaly has benefited from extensive investment under the Town and Village Renewal scheme in recent years, and the work of local community groups and Offaly County Council staff in submitting successful applications to the Department must be acknowledged.”
The funding will see various enhancement works at the different locations to include public realm, upgraded footpaths and public lighting, improved signage and accessibility, pedestrian crossings and street furniture.
“I have consistently highlighted the importance of this funding scheme to enhance our central spaces and bring social and economic activity to all our towns and villages, and I would encourage all community groups to engage with Offaly County Council to draft submissions in anticipation of future phases under the scheme,” he concluded.
Minister Pippa Hackett added: “Some wonderful projects in Offaly are being supported by this funding. I’m delighted to see spending on the heritage centre in Ferbane, the Fair Green in Clonygowan, and public realm projects across the county to give us better outdoor recreation spaces”.
Minister Humphreys said the funding is about helping communities get back on their feet and adapt to the ongoing challenges Covid-19 presents – it will help make our towns and villages safer places to live, work and do business.
The funding announced today is in addition to €10.4 million allocated by Minister Humphreys to 363 towns and villages since August 2020 for immediate COVID-19 response measures under the 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
In total, over 500 projects are now being supported with funding of more than €25 million under the 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered through the Local Authorities, in consultation with local communities.