Over €450K for community projects across County Cavan

Playgrounds and astro turf facilities among developments approved

Ten community groups in County Cavan are set to receive over €450,000 in funding between them under the latest Clár allocations.

Six groups across the Breffni county are set to receive €50,000 each. They are Cootehill Community Playground; Kilnaleck Community Playground; St Patrick's NS, Bruskey; Aghadreena NS, Stradone; Lavey Community Group and Cootehill Harps AFC.

The Cootehill and Kilnaleck groupg will use the money to upgrade existing community playgrounds. St Patrick's NS in Bruskey plans to create an all-weather community astro turf pitch. Aghadreena NS also plans to develop a multi-use gaming area and astro turf facility with the funds.

Lavey Community Group hopes to develop a carpark and install wheelchair access to playing surface; while Cootehill Harps have plans to tarmac their existing carpark.

Other community projects to be awarded funding were St Anne's NS Parents Association, Bailieborough (€45,000), to build a multi-use games area; Swanlinbar Development Association (€25,236) to upgrade the surface of an all-weather pitch to a new 3G synthetic pitch; Kilnaleck Activity Hub (€43,200) to construct a four-lane, 100-metre running track; and Drumlane Community Development & Drumlane GAA Club (€39,983) to upgrade lighting on a community walking track.

In total, €7.5 million was issued to community groups nationwide under the Government's 'Our Rural Future' policy for rural development to develop projects including astro-turf pitches, sensory gardens, playgrounds, walking & running tracks, community gyms, carparks, public lighting and more.

The announcement was made this morning (Monday) by Minister for Rural and Community Development and local Fine Gael TD Heather Humphreys.

“Our Rural Future is all about a ground-up approach to rural development. Every community is different and the people who know best what their town, village or parish needs are the people who live there.

“It was for that very reason that I broadened the scope of the CLAR Programme this year to allow for a much wider range of eligible projects. The response from communities across Monaghan and Cavan has been overwhelming and that is evidenced by the diverse range and variety of successful projects under this year’s scheme," she said.

Noting that this is a record number of allocations, Minister Humphreys said the funding would develop rural community facilities to benefit people of all ages.

Cavan Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith, welcomed the approvals. "I compliment the various clubs, schools and other organisations and Cavan and Monaghan county councils on submitting successful applications, which will result in the enhancement of local facilities.”

His party colleague Deputy Niamh Smyth also welcomed the funding.

"The spread of funding throughout the constituency will be warmly welcomed by the active committees pursuing development of enhanced and better outdoor leisure and sporting facilities. The improvements to lighting, playing surfaces, wheelchair accessibility and parking facilities within many areas will augment and boost existing facilities," she said.

Praising the committees and "unsung heroes" behind the various projects, Deputy Smyth said she was particularly pleased to see the development of a multi-use games area for the wider community at St Anne’s NS Bailieborough.

"This will enrich the educational experience of students attending St Anne’s and have a positive impact in nurturing their physical and psychological wellbeing," she said.

Fine Gael Senator Joe O’Reilly was also delighted with the funding: “Fine Gael is working to create stronger safer communities and in Government we are prioritising programmes like the CLÁR Programme to achieve this.”

Monaghan Senator Robbie Gallagher (FF) also commended the volunteers behind the various projects. “Community groups have put in a lot of hard work and voluntary time to develop their applications on behalf of their town, village or parish. This work is often unseen and under-appreciated. Volunteers who give of their time and effort in this way are the backbone of their local communities."

He expressed a hope to see the projects come to fruition over the coming months.