€120k fund for playground at Grange Linear Park announced

Funding of almost €350,000 for Westmeath has been announced in part of an overall sum of €17 million for 212 community projects

During a visit to Roscommon to open rural development projects funded by his department, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, TD, announced the €17 million through the Community Recognition Fund.

In Westmeath, funds have been awarded for the following projects:

Westmeath County Council, playground at Grange Linear Park, €120,000;

Westmeath County Council,, enhancement of Ranelagh Way walking amenity, €90,000;

Westmeath Libraries, upgrade of Athlone Library, €86,614;

Youth Work Ireland Midlands, sustainability upgrade at Grange Resource Centre, €50,000.

The total amount is €346,614.

Included in the list of 212 projects are enhancement works to community centres, a wide range of recreational facilities, and the purchase of buildings and lands for future shared use by communities.

The provision of community vehicles and projects supporting the arts and culture sector are also included in today’s announcement.

Minister Calleary said: “I am very happy to be making a further announcement under the Community recognition Fund which will build on the 349 projects previously announced under the 2024 scheme. The announcement today will mean that over 1,450 projects have now been awarded funding under the Community Recognition Fund in just over two years.

“The fund continues to support the cities, towns and villages that welcomed new arrivals to their communities in recent years. This funding has enabled communities to be more inclusive and resilient through the provision and enhancement of a range of community facilities and community spaces.”

He said that, in line with the Programme for Government and his departmental policy ‘Our Rural Future’, hie is committed to providing supports to communities, urban and rural, to enable them to become inclusive, resilient and sustainable places in which to live and raise families, to visit and to socialise in.

“I would like to acknowledge the efforts of community groups in preparing and submitting applications under the Community Recognition Fund. Through your care and passion for your communities, real change is happening, and community infrastructure is being improved and developed like never before. Working together we are building the communities of the future.”

Details of the 212 projects announced today are available on gov.ie.