Local areas receive funding to help adapt to COVID-19

A number of local projects are to benefit from funding to help rural towns and villages adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys on Monday announced details of the first €2.8 million in funding approvals.

The funding will benefit 106 towns and villages throughout every county in Ireland.

Local towns and villages included in the funding allocation include Moate (pictured) and Kilbeggan, each of which will be granted €25,000 for the development of accessible, open and weather proof community spaces.

In Roscommon, €25,000 will be allocated to an initiative in Athleague to purchase equipment to facilitate various outdoor activities throughout the year.

In Longford, €25,000 has been allocated in Ballymahon to create a covered outdoor event space to facilitate outdoor markets and public events.

Ballymahon is also part of a cluster of four towns, along with Lanesborough, Granard and Edgeworthstown, in a project to develop self-guided walking tour maps, with a “seek and find” challenge which reveals the history of specific features. Some €14,040 was allocated to this initiative.

In Offaly, €25,000 has been allocated to a project to enhance public realm space at the Shannonbridge Tourist Office/Lock House

And in Galway, €40,000 has been granted to support a shop local campaign, promotional signage, Christmas festival experience and a Parklet Pilot scheme which will provide additional seating for traders.

Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said: “It is vitally important that we increase footfall in rural towns and villages by supporting them to adapt to this ‘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.

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.”

Minister Humphreys continued:

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

This tranche of funding announced today is part of an enhanced €25 million Town and Village Scheme which will continue to rejuvenate rural communities across Ireland.

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.”

The extra funding of €10 million for towns and villages under the July Stimulus Package is in addition to €15 million already ear-marked for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2020.