Funding boost for local community projects

A number of local community projects have received funding boosts this week under the Town and Villages Renewal Scheme.

The Old Rail Trail amenity at Streamstown has been allocated €214,000 which will be used to purchase adult gym equipment, while Rathwire has been allocated €112,000 that will go towards a new village centre plaza.

Moate has also been allocated €180,000 that will go towards enhancing the town's streetscape with new seating, enhanced shopfronts and connections to amenities.

The news has been welcomed by Minister Peter Burke, who says that the new funding is a vote of confidence in the work carried being carried out by voluntary groups in the three communities and a another sign of the government's commitment to supporting rural Ireland.

“There are more people living in rural Ireland than ever before. There are more people working in rural Ireland than ever before and there is more investment going into rural Ireland than ever before and the facts back this up. Since 2016, over €176 million has been approved for more than 1,700 projects across the country,” said Minister Burke.

“These projects are all about making our rural towns and villages great places to live, work and raise a family. I want to thank the local communities who brought forward these proposals and I look forward to seeing work commence on many of these exciting projects in the near future”, concluded Minister Burke.

Cllr Tom Farrell also welcomed the news and paid tribute to the “voluntary committees who put so much work into putting the grant applications together”.

This is a great addition to the towns and further enhancement of good work already started.”