Helping Laois communities tap into millions of tourism euros

The business of tourism and community mixed when the Laois Public Participation Network (PPN) teamed up with Laois Tourism for a workshop on Regenerative Tourism Funding which has a pot of almost €40 mill.

Laois PPN provide regular updates to PPN Member Groups on funding opportunities. Community Groups registered with Laois PPN were invited to come along and learn how their Group and local community can benefit from this funding opportunity.

As Ireland moves towards a low-carbon economy, Fáilte Ireland intents to will deliver the Regenerative Tourism Scheme as part of the EU Just Transition Fund. Through this scheme, tourism projects will be funded across Laois and the Midlands – sustaining jobs, businesses and communities.

‘Programme for the EU Just Transition Fund’ investment recently saw €169 million allocated.  Of this €68 million is going to tourism in the midlands. This is split between €38 million for Regenerative Tourism businesses and €30 million for a Tourism Trails Network to be divided across counties losing peat production.

Potential project ideas include festivals, markets, walkways and trails, small museums or visitor centres, community cafés, equipment hire and glamping/camping facilities.

The guest speaker was Regina Dunne, the new Tourism Development Executive with Laois Chamber Alliance.

“I was delighted to be invited by the Laois PPN to deliver a presentation on the €68 million of Just Transition Regenerative Tourism funding. There was a great turnout of Laois PPN groups on Tuesday evening last at The Cube Low Carbon Centre of Excellence. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

“It was evident from the discussion and the people in the room that communities are key to enhancing our tourism offering here in County Laois. The purpose of the workshop was to generate project ideas that could potentially be funded under the funding which will be administered by Fáilte Ireland. Ideas such as the repurposing of old farm building to create low carbon accommodation offerings or employment for community cafés were discussed.

“We invite anyone with a project idea to fill out the attached survey and make an anonymous submission to Fáilte Ireland. Regenerative tourism, is key to job creation in the counties affected by the closure of the peat processing power plants, and Laois are strategically located in the country for tourists to situate themselves to explore all of Ireland while on their visits to Ireland,” she said. More below picture.

Attending the meeting in the Cube.

Dan Bergin is the Laois PPN Resource Worker.

“Laois with its central location, beautiful Slieve Mountains, rich heritage and growing number of events and festivals is ideally placed to benefit from this funding opportunity,” he said.

Nearly €60 mill spent buying Laois and Midlands farmland in a year

To find out more about the funding stream or to discuss a project idea, reach out to Regina at regina.dunne@laoistourism.ie.
To complete the Survey on the Just Transition Regenerative Tourism Scheme click here or visit www.failteireland.ie/
JustTransition/Survey.aspx

Pictured: Dan BerginLaois PPN and Brendan Guinan

Laois PPN consists of 650+ Member Groups from the Community, Social Inclusion and Environmental Pillars. All groups registered with Laois PPN are given the opportunity to attend Laois PPN events.

Any group wishing to join Laois PPN can do so by completing the application on the Laois PPN website www.laoisppn.ie