Offaly tourism projects benefit from €1.5 million investment

FOUR tourism projects in Offaly will benefit from funding amounting to over €1.5 million awarded under the EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.

Offaly has been allocated the largest funding amount of all eligible county’s in this round of the scheme and the four projects to benefit are: Shannon Bank Park Trustees Community Group - €616,700 to rejuvenation Banagher Open Water Pool and offer an improved visitor experience, ensuring it is safe and accessible for all users; Sloe Blossom Farm - €300,000 for the development of tourism accommodation; Croghan Hill Glamping - €80,776 for the delivery of four self-catering, eco-friendly furnished glamping pods; and Waterways Ireland - €520,000 to increase the mooring capacity at Shannon Harbour with fixed jetty to facilitate more visitors and enhance visitor experience.

Fine Gael TD for Offaly, John Clendennen has warmly welcomed the announcement by Fáilte Ireland. “Funding of this nature is transformative for the projects involved and is no less than Offaly deserves,” said Deputy Clendennen. Part of the EU Just Transition Fund programme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, this marks the second announcement of successful projects under both the Private and Community SME scheme, and the Local Authority and State Agency scheme.

The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) was created to support the regions and communities in Europe that are most negatively affected by the transition to climate neutrality and to promote socio-economic transition, ensuring that no one is left behind.

“Just this week in the Dáil, I advocated for further Community Benefit Funding Schemes and highlighted the nearly 700 job losses suffered in the county due to the energy transition, which is the highest in Ireland. An investment of this nature is very welcome and such funding schemes must continue to support Offaly,” said Deputy Clendennen

“I would like acknowledge and thank Minister Peter Burke for his support with this significant funding allocation for Offaly, and congratulate those projects that have received funding. I look forward to seeing them proceed towards development.”

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In all 15 tourism projects were awarded over €4.2 million under Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.

13 of these projects represent the latest private and community SMEs to have signed Investment Grant Agreements with Fáilte Ireland, receiving over €2.6 million in grant-aid to deliver projects across four regenerative tourism development categories. Further projects are expected to be announced under this scheme in the coming weeks, as evaluations of applications are completed.

Over €1.5 million in funding has been awarded to two projects under the Local Authority and State Agency scheme, which aims to deliver improved tourism infrastructure, facilities and visitor experiences, including those that can be leveraged by the private and community sectors.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said: "I am pleased to see today's announcement of further investment in projects by Government through Fáilte Ireland and the EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. The EU Just Transition Fund scheme is supporting sustainable economic development and job creation in communities and businesses across the Midlands. I look forward to seeing these projects develop over the next year and to announce further successful projects for the Midlands over the coming weeks and months under this funding scheme”.

Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien TD said: “I welcome the latest announcement by Fáilte Ireland of investments in projects under the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. These projects, which will deliver improved tourism infrastructure, facilities and visitor experiences, will play a key role in the regenerative tourism development journey in the Midlands. I look forward to the delivery of the projects and to witnessing their positive impact across the Midlands region.”

CEO of Fáilte Ireland, Paul Kelly said: “It’s fantastic to see even more tourism businesses and communities benefit from this transformative Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. The 15 projects announced today highlight the significant opportunities that initiatives like the EU Just Transition Fund can bring to the midlands.

“This investment of over €4.2million will help sustain local communities by creating new opportunities for employment, empowering local businesses, and providing more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East.

“We look forward to further collaboration with local tourism businesses and communities, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) and our strategic partners to deliver this wide range of projects under the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.”

A/Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) Clare Bannon said "This is an exciting announcement today that an additional 15 tourism projects are receiving funding from the Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. EMRA is delighted to be working with Fáilte Ireland in administering this EU Just Transition funded scheme to bring direct support from the EU to the local level. These projects join an ever-expanding list of fantastic EU Just Transition Fund supported initiatives from local groups and businesses across the Midlands that are enabling growth and diversification of opportunities in the region."

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