Welcome funding boost for Laois towns and villages
Funding of over €950,000 has been approved for projects to improve towns and villages across Laois.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding will benefit projects in Ballinakill, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Ballyroan and Abbeyleix.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys announced over €27 million in funding nationally, the largest spend to date, to combat dereliction and breathe new life into rural towns and villages.
The largest beneficiary in Laois was Portarlington, where €500,000 has been allocated for the Portarlington landscape masterplan.
Pictured above: A drawing of the Portarlington masterplan
Pictured above: Ballinakill outdoor swimming pool
Abbeyleix was included in the funding of up to €100,000 in the Streetscapes Enhancement Initiative.
Under the initiative, retailers and property owners will be provided with grants that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies.
This scheme allowed funding of up to €100,000 provided to one town per local authority.
Elsewhere, Mountmellick secured €67,500 for a project. The project will enhance car parking at Mountmellick Community Arts Centre to include resurfacing of accessible parking facilities, in addition to the installation of smart benches and bike stands.
Above: An image of the inside of the school in Ballyroan.
Meanwhile, Carlow is getting €250,000 for Graiguecullen Enhancement of the public realm in Graiguecullen through the creation of a Multi Activity Zone in the Millennium Park in the area of the Laois town managed by the Carlow local authority.
This will include outdoor dining spaces, integration of smart benches, enhanced parking facilities and upgrade of former play area to provide an interactive engagement zone for families.
Announcing the funding today, Minister Humphreys said: “This is all about tackling the scourge of vacancy and dereliction in our rural towns and villages. It’s about taking old buildings and giving them a new lease of life.”
“And it’s about rejuvenating the centre of our towns by developing public plazas, town parks, community gardens and sports facilities for the benefit of local families,” she said.
Minister Humphreys said: “This investment today will breathe new life into rural towns and villages across every single county.”
“It’s the largest ever investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and demonstrates my passion and ambition for our rural communities,” she added.