Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces over €20m for wide range of regeneration projects in rural towns and villages
- 82 projects across the country receiving funding
- Focus on combating dereliction & repurposing old buildings
- Successful projects include public plazas, farmers’ markets, town parks, youth centres and playgrounds
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Monday, 29 April, 2024) announced funding of over €20 million to benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.
Funding is being allocated to deliver 82 projects right across Ireland. The successful projects include the regeneration of derelict buildings, the provision of public plazas and farmers’ markets in town centres and the development of Town Parks.
The investment is being provided under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme with a particular emphasis on the revitalisation of rural town centres, which is a key objective of the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First Policies.
Announcing the funding in Mayo, Minister Humphreys said:
“I am delighted to approve funding of over €20m under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The benefit of this funding will be felt the length and breadth of the country.
“These projects have come from local communities themselves and I am delighted to see such a diverse range of projects ranging from new Town Parks and Playgrounds to the development of Farmers Markets and Outdoor Dining Spaces.
“I am also pleased to see a number of successful projects which will see vacant and derelict buildings brought back into use and repurposed with Community Halls and Youth Centres being provided.
“This is Our Rural Future in action, delivering at local level and making a real difference in our rural towns and villages”
Since the Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016, over €177 million has been approved for almost 1,800 projects across the country.
Details of the successful projects can be found here.
Minister officially opens the €4 million SOLAS Visitor Experience and Tourism Hub for the North Mayo Gaeltacht.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, also visited Eachléim, Co. Mayo today (Monday, 29th April) to officially open the €4 million SOLAS Visitor Experience and Tourism Hub for the North Mayo Gaeltacht.
SOLAS is a new Visitor Experience and Tourism Hub in the heart of the North Mayo Gaeltacht where visitors can explore the natural and cultural heritage of the area including a visit to the Blacksod Lighthouse.
Speaking in Eachléim the Minister said:
“This spectacular project will celebrate that history and enable visitors to learn about the wealth of cultural and natural heritage in this region and facilitate visits to the Blacksod Lighthouse.
“The SOLAS Visitor Centre will be a regional visitor attraction in its own right. I understand over 2,000 people have already visited this centre since the doors opened a couple of weeks ago.
“Visitors to SOLAS can also view local craft makers at work and buy products supporting local businesses from this region as well as Gaeltacht regions further afield.
“This will not only create jobs and generate opportunities, it will also help to transform this region for everyone.”
Údarás na Gaeltachta was awarded funding of €2.47 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Additional investment of €1 million was provided by Údarás na Gaeltachta and €0.5 million from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltach, Sport and Media.
For more information, visit: gov – Minister Humphreys announces over €20m for wide range of regeneration projects in rural towns and villages (www.gov.ie)