Almost €2 million in funding for projects in Cootehill
BOOST Former Bank of Ireland facility being redeveloped
The town of Cootehill has received almost €2million in funding within the last twelve months.
Local Fianna Fáil County Councillor Aiden Fitzpatrick is delighted with the progress of the town and looks forward to upcoming developments.
“It’s going quite good,” he reported.
“We have received what must be close to €2million in funding in the last 12 months,” he estimated.
Cootehill’s Community Hub, known as Hub Muinchille is going from strength to strength in the town, so much so that another twin facility is in planning.
Cavan County Council has purchased the former Bank of Ireland facility in Cootehill at a cost of €200,000 for this purpose.
“It’s [Hub Muinchille] packed to capacity,” Cllr Fitzpatrick reported, demonstrating the need/demand for a similar facility in the town.
“We’re looking forward to getting into that and getting it developed.”
The community has also benefitted from funding (€500,000) from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) for the redevelopment of the building.
“That process has started now with a business plan being done for it,” outlined Cllr Fitzpatrick.
The planned facility will run like Hub Muinchille; a social enterprise, digital hub and counselling service for youth.”
Work on the building has commenced with tenders sent out for a consultant to do a business plan for the building, they then hope to get a design team in.
“Not only do we want to get it open, but we want to get it open to pay for itself.
“The income we get from that we can redirect into different projects in Cootehill, that’s the idea.
“The money we earn is being spent back in Cootehill,” explained the local representative.
Further funding for the town’s development has been abundant in the past year, with the acquisition of Capital Sports Funding (€175,000) for Cootehill Celtic GAA club to create a walking track around their pitch, with Cootehill Harps AFC receiving a “similar amount”.
The community has also been awarded funding from Active Travel (€560,000) for footpaths and cycleways around the town, with the Greenway project due to commence in the next few weeks. It will see a walkway and cycle track from the Errigal Country House Hotel to the Monaghan Road.
“That will then enable the approach roads to be done, which I know is an issue and an issue that we are working on constantly.”
Cllr Fitzpatrick addressed the current state of Station Road, which he described as “full of potholes” and “uneven”.
“They are terrible, you couldn’t cycle a bike on them,” he said.
Cllr Fitzpatrick reported engineers are “hopeful but not guaranteeing” that this work will commence before the end of the year.
“I will keep on their case,” he assured.
“It’s just a constant battle [roads],” added Cllr Fitzpatrick.
Playground
Additional funding to the community has come from CLÁR (€50,000) which will see the community playground upgraded and the Community Recognition Fund (€125,000) to develop the multi-use games area in the town.
“I want to highlight all of those good things, I know there are negativities there about the Station Road but, while I acknowledge that, there are good things happening as well,” Cllr Fitzpatrick concluded.