4 communities to receive €399,692 investment in regeneration and development projects
Four County Carlow communities are to receive €399,692 in investment as part of the Town & Village Renewal Scheme Funding 2019 , it has been announced (31st October 2019)
Old Leighlin , Leighlinbridge , Hacketstown & Ardattin are to receive funds.
Welcoming the funding , Cllr. John Pender , Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said “we are delighted that by working together with communities that Carlow County Council was awarded funding of €399,692 which will result in €499,952 in investment in these communities in key projects designed by the community”
Pender continued to say
“we commend all communities who engaged in the Town &Village process for 2019 and we will continue to work towards the development of projects for the 2020 call for funding”.
Speaking about the projects which gained support , Kathleen Holohan , Chief Executive with Carlow County Council said
“the projects funded represent unique opportunities for each community to enhance their location as a place to live , work and play and overall enhance the rural fabric of County Carlow” ,
Holohan continued to say
“I commend the community leaders who played such an active role with these projects and we are committed to working with these communities to now see the projects to full implementation stage” , Holohan concluded by saying
“partnership is key to these projects and we are delighted to work with the teams in Visual and Carlow Tourism on these projects”.
Commenting on the next stage in the process , Kieran Comerford , Head of Enterprise with Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office said
“we will shortly engage with the successful communities in the scheme to put in place a project delivery plan in line with the requirements of the scheme which is supported by Helen Ryan , Economic Development Officer” ,
Comerford continued to say “in tandem with this process we will schedule meetings with unsuccessful applicants in January 2020 in order to provide feedback and support for the development of their projects”.
The scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and is administered by the Local Authorities.
Under the 2019 scheme, up to 80% of the total cost for each approved project will be provided by the Department, with the remaining 20% being provided either through community contribution and/or the local authority.
Nationally, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, announced that 156 rural towns and villages across the country are set to benefit from €15 million in funding under the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Funding awarded to individual towns and villages this year generally ranges from €20,000 to €100,000, with 26 projects receiving between €100,000 and €200,000 for more ambitious proposals..
The Minister said almost €68 million has now been approved for more than 830 projects across the country under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme since it was introduced in the second half of 2016, with more than 600 of these approved since the Action Plan for Rural Development was launched in January 2017.
Minister Ring said the scheme was heavily oversubscribed. “It was not possible to fund all of the applications received, but I am pleased that many of the towns and villages which have been successful this year are receiving funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for the first time.
The Minister said that the Government’s commitment to supporting rural Ireland is further underscored through the €1 billion Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which complements the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Ends
For further detail contact Kieran Comerford on 086-8252037 or e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie
