Balrothery Village secures €100,000 funding towards Childrens Playground.
Balrothery and Naul Villages to benefit from set to benefit from Fund of over €21 million in funding under the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The scheme is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development. Balrothery will receive €100 towards a Themed Childrens Playground and Naul Village will get €76,000 towards Sculpture and Culture Park.
The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which was launched in April this year, focuses on projects which can help to enhance and develop rural towns and villages, with a particular emphasis on stimulating economic development. Funding awarded to individual towns and villages this year generally range from €20,000 to €100,000, with 50 projects receiving between €100,000 and €200,000 for more ambitious proposals.
Minister Ring made the announcement in Granard, Co. Longford at the newly
refurbished Butter Market which received funding under the 2016 Town and Village Renewal Scheme having been derelict for decades.
Minister Ring said: “The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is an important part of my Department’s work to rejuvenate and revitalise rural Ireland and should have a significant impact on towns and villages across the country.
“Following on from the success of the 2016 scheme, I am delighted to be able to allocate €21.6 million for projects in 281 towns and villages right across rural Ireland. This allocation more than doubles the €10 million allocated to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme last year. This is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to making rural Ireland a more vibrant and sustainable place to live. This funding will be put to good use over the coming twelve months for the benefit of the people who live in rural Ireland.
“I have placed a particular emphasis this year on projects which have the capacity to support the economic development of rural town and villages as well as their neighbouring townlands. The scheme will also support improvements to public amenities in town and village centres, to help make them more attractive places in which to live and work and to visit.
“I am delighted with the response which I received to the call for proposals this year. Amongst the successful projects which I am announcing are many fine examples of initiatives which will support enterprise and job creation. I want to thank the Local Authorities for their efforts and co-operation in engaging with local and business communities to identify these projects. Most of the funding will benefit towns and villages, with populations of less than 5,000 people.
”The allocation of €21 million by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Town and Village Renewal scheme follows the roll out earlier this year of a range of other initiatives to support rural Ireland, including the CLÁR scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure scheme and the Local Improvement Scheme.