Four Westmeath towns to receive €25k each

Above: Kinnegad.

Four towns in Westmeath have just been awarded €25,000 apiece to help them adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kinnegad, Moate, Castlepollard and Kilbeggan are the four towns on the list announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys on Monday morning.

The grants are intended to cover the development of “accessible public spaces” that are weather-proof but open.

In total €2.8m in funding has been approved by the minister for 106 rural towns and villages.

Announcing the allocations, Minister Humphreys said it was vitally important that the government supporting towns and villages to enable them to adapt to the ‘new normal’ as a result of COVID-19.

“This funding will benefit communities by altering the streetscapes so that people can shop, work and socialise safely,” she said, before going on to explain that the tranche of funding she was annoouncing was part of an enhanced €25 million Town and Village Scheme which will continue to rejuvenate rural communities across Ireland.

“I have increased the funding for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the €17 million rural package that my Department secured under the July Jobs Stimulus. This means that even more towns and villages will benefit from supports.

“Local Authorities throughout the country have been developing creative and innovative proposals to increase footfall and assist businesses in our rural towns and villages.

“Further approvals under this hugely popular scheme will follow in a series of funding rounds that will be announced in the coming weeks. I expect that up to 500 towns and villages will be supported this year under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.”