An outdoor cinema, upgrade of amenity park and an urban garden among the ideas funded
A number of local projects are to benefit from the latest funding allocations from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys (pictured) today announced details of 137 rural towns and villages to benefit from €4.3 million in funding to help them adjust to COVID-19 restrictions.
The funding is being delivered under the Accelerated Measure of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
€25000 has been allocated for the enhancement of the amenity park in Streamstown.
A plan for provision of a marquee, outdoor cinema system and seating to allow for outdoor events and Christmas tree and lights in Ballyforan has been allocated €24,093.00
Grants of €25,000 each have been allocated to projects in Ferbane (Provision of ‘chill & chat’ urban garden in centre of Ferbane) and Ballycumber (Enhancement of riverside amenity area to include seating and all weather covers).
The purchase of festive marketing huts in Mullingar to be used by local businesses at Christmas and other festivals has been grant aided to the tune of €40,000 while €25,000 has been granted to a plan to provide IT equipment to 6 broadband connection points in rural Westmeath.
This funding is designed to enable towns and villages to implement immediate measures that will encourage people into towns and villages to shop and socialise, while adhering to public health guidelines.
The funding is facilitated through the Government’s July Stimulus package.
Today's announcement is in addition to €6.1 million allocated by Minister Humphreys to 226 towns and villages since July under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for COVID-19 adaptations.
This means that over 360 projects are now being supported with funding of more than €10 million under the Accelerated Measure of the 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
The allocation includes funding of €1.5 million for 38 large towns with populations in excess of 10,000 which have not previously been funded through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:
“Our rural towns and villages have always played a huge role in supporting businesses and communities by providing spaces for people to meet, socialise and shop locally. Recognising their importance to the economic and social well-being of rural areas, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has invested significantly in towns and villages over the last number of years.
“The scheme is now more important than ever to assist businesses and communities to address the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to their towns and villages.”