Five projects in Cavan get almost €140K in funds

County Cavan is a big winner in the latest round of funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme having secured €138,769 for five projects.

The news was announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys, who said the funding is aimed at assisting towns and villages to adapt to the ‘new normal’ we now face as a result of COVID-19.

The focus of the funding is on measures and interventions that help towns and villages to adapt to social distancing requirements and to provide safe environments that encourage people into towns and villages to work, shop and socialise.

“We know we will be living with this virus for many months to come so these supports will make it easier for people in Cavan to work, shop and socialise in a safe manner,” Minister Humphreys said.

In July, through the first round of funding under the scheme, Cootehill, Killeshandra, Kilnaleck, and Swanlinbar all benefitted.

In the second tranche of funding announced this week, €138,769 is being provided to Ballyjamesduff, Ballyconnell, Kingscourt, Ballinagh and Arva.

For various reasons, other local authorities submitted projects that were not approved for funding.

However, all five of the projects submitted by Cavan County Council received funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme during this round.

“I want to commend Cavan County Council for their work in submitting an excellent application that ensured the communities of Ballyjamesduff, Ballyconnell, Kingscourt, Ballinagh and Arva will now benefit from this funding,” Minister Humphreys said.

Almost €40,000 has been allocated to a project to enhance the outdoor Ballyjamesduff experience by the provision of an outdoor cinema, entertainment and heritage trail improvements.

Over €24,000 has been allocated to Ballyconnell for the purchase of seating, canopies, lights etc in order to create a covered outdoor meeting and event space at the Market Square.

Kingscourt is to benefit from almost €25,000 to install four outdoor seating areas and a marquee to provide safe meeting spaces for people in the community.

A further €25,000 will to go Ballinagh for the provision of stretch tent, pergola and marquees to provide outdoor covered areas for socialising or trade.

And Arva will benefit from more than €24,500 for the planting of trees, new seating, charging points and the installation of a marquee to provide a covered meeting area in the town.

Nationwide, 120 additional towns and villages are to benefit from €3.3 million.

Minister Humphreys added: “The challenges of recent months have highlighted the central role that our towns and villages play in the lives of people in rural areas. They are where we live, work, shop and socialise.

“The impact of COVID-19 has brought changes to all of our daily lives, but the projects I am approving today will assist rural towns and villages to adapt to those changes. It is important that we make our towns and villages as welcoming as possible and that we provide the infrastructure to allow people to engage with local shops and services, and with each other, in a safe manner at this time.

“The €3.3 million in funding which I am allocating today to 120 towns and villages is for projects that can be delivered quickly and which will encourage people into our towns and villages, and giving them the confidence to spend more time there. Today’s funding is in addition to an allocation of €2.8 million made to 120 projects in August and is supported through the Government’s July Stimulus Package.”

Fianna Fáil's Brendan Smith has also welcomed the allocations and congratulated all those involved in the success projects.

"I am confident that the facilities to be funded under this allocation will be put in place at an early date and rural Ireland, including other towns and villages, need a continuous package of investment to support local authority, community and commercial initiatives," he said.