Dereliction in Waterford to be tackled as Humphreys announces funding worth €500k

Almost half a million euro in funding has been allocated to Waterford to combat dereliction in rural towns and villages. 

It's part of a €27million nationwide package announced today (December 14) by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, and marks the largest ever investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. 

Six projects in Waterford including Cappoquin, Clonea Power, Dunhill, Tallow, Passage East, and Tramore will benefit from a total of €476,523. 

Commenting today, Minister Humphreys said, "I am delighted to announce a record €27 million in funding under my Department’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme. 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. 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." 

Over €150,000 (€152,262) has been allocated to Cappoquin for the creation of a community garden with amenities, accessible pathways and refurbishment of the children's playground with ancillary works, while €86,503 will go towards Clonea Power to develop a contemplative garden with performance space including an orchard in the grounds of the Old School House. 

Waterford Dunhill will receive €237,758 for the redesign and remodel of an existing community owned space to create additional office space and a remote working facility, while SEM Tallow will use €100,000 in funding for streetscape enhancement. 

A review of the harbour area in Passage East will be undertaken thanks to funding of €49,500. This includes current commercial usage, environmental factors, structural assessment, and examination of potential future opportunities with the river (tourism).

Almost €50,000 will fund a feasibility study in Tramore for the development plan of a multi-cultural centre, including a review of properties and potential locations for the centre, funding model to acquire the building, and scope initial development works required. 

Minister Humphreys continued: "We are all familiar with that old building in the community that has acted as an eyesore for far too long. This particular initiative, the Building Acquisition Measure, is about providing our local authorities with the necessary resources to tackle the scourge of vacancy and dereliction.

"This funding will see former garda stations, convents, old cinemas and banks taken into public ownership and converted for the good of the local community. This scheme goes to the heart of our rural development policy ‘Our Rural Future’ – breathing new life into towns and villages and making them better places to live, work and raise a family.”

Waterford senator John Cummins also commented and said, "Fine Gael established the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in
2016 and since then it has funded over fifty-five projects across our county to the tune of over €3.8 million.

"Today’s Category 1 and Category 2 allocations brings funding under the scheme to over €4.3 million. This level of funding in our rural towns and villages is having a tangible impact and I want to commend Minister Humphreys for prioritising funding through ‘Our Rural Future’ for this purpose, it is money very well spent."