€45,000 for Blacklion under the Town & Village Rural Regeneration Scheme

Blacklion is set to receive €45,000 under the Town and Village Rural Regeneration Scheme for a number of community development projects.

The funding will allow for preparatory works for the upgrade and regeneration of a key central green space area and adjacent derelict building known as Mooney’s Hall as an indoor and outdoor community, social and remote working hub.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is aimed at renewing rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of the 'Our Rural Future' policy.

The government say 'Our Rural Future' is a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.

Welcoming the announcement Blacklion elected representative, Cllr John Paul Feeley, said the funding will be targeted at regenerating community infrastructure: “I am delighted with this funding announcement, it will have a very real benefit to the community of Blacklion.”

Blacklion is one of 19 projects to receive €45,000 under the Town & Village Rural Regeneration Scheme announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys. Minister Humphreys announced over €850,000 in funding to support rural regeneration projects across the country.

“The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is all about breathing new life into rural communities,” the Minister said, “It’s about tackling the scourge of dereliction and vacancy that we all know has been an issue in rural communities for decades.”

The minister identified the creation of Public Plazas, Green Spaces and Community Parks in the centres of our towns and villages among the objectives set out in the Town Centre First strategy.

“It will provide a mechanism for scoping out future projects in order to ensure projects are advanced to a shovel-ready stage. At that point a more comprehensive funding application can be made, and quality projects progressed to construction. Today we are supporting the development of a pipeline of 19 projects with funding of over €850,000,” Minister Humphreys said.

Welcoming the announce Fianna Fáil deputy, Niamh Smyth, commended all involved in making the application: "I would like to congratulate everyone involved and look forward to the progression of the project."

Senator Joe O’Reilly said the earmarked funding will have very real benefits: “Fine Gael is working to build stronger safer communities across the country, and a new allocation of rural regeneration funding will really help achieve that in Cavan.

“Cavan County Council can use this latest funding towards significant, well developed projects which might be subsequently progressed to construction stage, and is subject to the availability of further funding,” he concluded.