Town and Village funding for Westmeath warmly welcomed

Funding of over half a million has been allocated to two redevelopment projects in Westmeath under the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, details of which were announced this morning (Monday) by Rural Affairs Minister, Dara Calleary TD.

Moate is to received €294,100 for the rejuvenation of two communal spaces at Mill Harbour Square and the Station Road to Church Road junction, along with painting of building facades, seating, shopfronts, floral displays and amenity signage.

Funding of half a million euros has been allocated to Ballynacargy under the Department scheme for the regeneration of the village core to deliver a streetscape regeneration programme to include the dedevelopment of the 'Square' at the centre of the village, link to the Old Rail Trail Greenway and Main Street enhancement.

Raharney has been allocated €18,000 as part of 'Project Development Measure’ which supports local authorities to develop a pipeline of projects and provides funding towards the costs of bringing these bring projects to a point where they are shovel ready. The Raharney funding will be used to transfer the ownerhip of lands to develop a new playground in Raharney village.

Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran has described the funding for Westmeath under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as “a significant investment package” and added that the funding scheme “continues to play a central role in strengthening rural towns and villages, backing projects that enhance quality of life, stimulate local economies, and support long-term community development.”

The local funding has also been welcomed by Minister Peter Burke, who said it will help “breathe new life into our town centres, encourage footfall and support local economic activity” and will also “strengthen the sense of pride people have in their communities.”

The funding for Westmeath is part of an overall package of €26 million which was announced under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for over 100 projects nationwide this morning by Rural Affairs Minister, Dara Calleary TD. The funding is being invested in projects that are designed to rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth and town footfall, combat dereliction and vacancy, develop pedestrian zones and outdoor spaces and boost tourism in rural Ireland.

Minister Calleary said the Town and Village Renewal Scheme continues to have “a hugely positive impact” in Ireland’s rural towns and villages and pledged a continued roll-out of “significant levels of investment in rural Ireland” from the government making rural towns and villages better places “to live, work, raise a family and run a business.”