Almost €750K for three renewal projects across Cavan

Ballyconnell, Ballyhaise and Shercock initiatives get major cash boost

Almost three quarters of a million euro has been allocated to three major projects in County Cavan as part of a national €20M initiative to benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, local TD Heather Humphreys, has today confirmed the funding.

The local projects to benefit are in Ballyconnell, Ballyhaise and Shercock.

Some €243,145 has been allocated for the development of an outdoor space at Ballyconnell Market House to facilitate public events, markets in the town core with the aim of increasing footfall, dwell time and economic activity.

A further €249,942 has been earmarked to improve the aesthetics and facilities at Ballyhaise Amenity Park, through the upgrade of the gate lodge building and significant improvements to the Amenity Park.

In Shercock, €250,000 will be spent on upgrading an existing hall to improve energy efficiency, and improve the streetscape by painting prominent buildings, erection of new signage and four murals.

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: “These projects have come from local communities themselves – building on that all important bottom up approach.

“This is Our Rural Future in action, delivering at local level and making a real difference in our rural towns and villages”

The Minister added: “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.

“These projects are all about making our rural towns and villages great places to live, work and raise a family. I want to thank the local communities who brought forward these proposals and I look forward to seeing work commence on many of these exciting projects in the near future.”

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Philip Brady has welcomed the allocation of €743,087 in Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding to three Cavan projects as a "fantastic boost for rural Cavan".

"Today's announcement by Minister Humphreys of approximately a quarter of a million euro each for projects in Ballyconnell, Ballyhaise, and Shercock will help reinvigorate the town and village core in these vibrant communities, increasing footfall, boosting commercial activity, and making them more attractive places to visit and to live in," he said.

Deputies Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth also welcomed the allocations.

Since the Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016, over €176 million has been approved for more than 1,700 projects across the country.