€250K for five projects in towns in Cavan and Monaghan
A sum of €250,000 has been allocated for projects in five local towns across Cavan and Monaghan.
The funding has been confirmed this morning by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys.
It's part of a €2.6m national allocation under the Town Centre First Initiative, which will see development and design work carried out on five key projects.
The Cavan towns of Bailieborough, Belturbet and Ballyjamesduff are set to benefit from €50K each, as are Carrickmacross and Emyvale in neighbouring County Monaghan.
Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said it will support local authorities and town teams to develop really ambitious projects in our local towns across Cavan and Monaghan.
“The funding is being provided for a wide range of projects from the development of town parks in our town centres to projects, which will bring vacant and derelict building in our towns back into use for the community.
“I look forward to seeing these exciting projects and initiatives progress and make positive impacts for our rural towns and villages,” she said.
The five successful projects in Cavan-Monaghan are:
Bailieborough, Co Cavan - €50,000: Project will assess the redevelopment of a back land site to include new land use proposals and public spaces with a focus on enhancing permeability and access within the town. Project elements will include detailed design, planning, professional fees and a topographical survey.
Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan - €50,000: Project will complete a site plan for the development of an outdoor amenity space at a 27 acre site in the town. Project elements include field and desktop studies, research and preliminary design with the production of a final report and recommendations.
Belturbet, Co Cavan - €50,000: Project relates to the redevelopment of the "Ducking Stool" site and nearby marina area in the town centre as a recreational amenity on Lough Erne. Project elements include the design, planning and assessments necessary to create a final design.
Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan - €50,000: Project will carry out preliminary and final designs to bring a derelict building known as 'The Bridewell' to a "shovel ready" stage for a future funding application to bring the building back into use as a community hub. Project will also support the development and submission of planning permission.
Emyvale, Co Monaghan - €50,000: Project will appoint a consultant to complete professional design services to bring the project to ‘shovel ready’ stage, thereby bringing a vacant village centre building back into community use that was purchased under the Our Rural Future Building Acquisition Measure in 2023.
Concluding, Minister Humphreys said: “Since I launched the Government’s Rural Development Policy, Our Rural Future, we have seen hugely positive progress in our rural counties across Ireland. There are more people living in rural Ireland than ever before; there are more people working in rural Ireland than ever before; and there is more investment going into rural Ireland than ever before."