Tullamore to receive €200,000 funding for permanent outdoor dining facilities
O’Connor Square on Bridge Street in Tullamore has been announced as one of 38 locations across the country to benefit from Fáilte Ireland funding for the permanent development of outdoor dining facilities.
The funding allocated to the square amounts to €200,000, with the fund nationwide reaching €9 million.
Fáilte Ireland’s Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme opened for applications in March 2021 and comprises two parts. This funding relates to part two of the scheme, which aims to develop streets and public spaces to facilitate outdoor dining in urban tourism centres, enabling access to outdoor seating for extended periods throughout the year.
Part one of the scheme - Outdoor Seating and Accessories - supports individual hospitality businesses with grants of up to €4,000 for seating, tables and outdoor accessories.
Speaking about the announcement of the funding for Tullamore, Minister Pippa Hackett said the town “is becoming a significant tourist town thanks to the Grand Canal Greenway and this announcement of €200,000 for a permanent outdoor dining facility in O’Connor Square is a major boost.”
“My colleague Catherine Martin is ensuring that all parts of the country have an opportunity to enhance their tourism offer and I’m delighted to see this funding coming to Offaly.”
Independent TD for Laois/Offaly Carol Nolan also warmly welcomed the announcement of the funding, which includes two locations in Laois - Dublin Road, Durrow (€32,348) and Hynd's Square, Portlaoise (€129,446).
“I was delighted to be informed that these locations in Laois/Offaly were three of the 19 areas chosen for support under the Scheme,” she said.
“It is vitally important that people have the option of being able to eat locally and to support the local economy in this way.
“As I understand it the funding will also be used to create urban tourism centres that will enable access to outdoor seating for extended periods throughout the year with the projects expected to be completed by Summer 2022.
“Anything that strengthens local communities and local enterprise is to be welcomed and I have no hesitation in doing so today.
"I will continue working hard to ensure that more locations throughout the constituency receive funding enabling them to provide similar amenities,” concluded Deputy Nolan.
Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, Catherine Martin T.D said:
“The aim of this Scheme is to support tourism and hospitality jobs and help businesses develop new ways of catering for domestic and international tourists outdoors.
“Access to outdoor dining facilities will continue to be a key part of industry recovery as we look forward to 2022 and beyond. This scheme further strengthens the Government’s deep commitment to develop tourism and necessary infrastructure nationwide.”
CEO of Fáilte Ireland Paul Kelly said the scheme will “support resilience and survival in the short term and the recovery of the tourism sector in the long-term.”
“We have learned during COVID-19 that people want the option of dining outdoors; this scheme will make dining areas suitable in a wider range of weather conditions so that they can be used for longer periods of the year, helping businesses towards sustainable recovery.”
The closing date for receipt of applications for part one of the scheme is 30 September.