The Argus

Fundingfor­Louth villagepro­jects

- By MARGARET RODDY

PROJECTS in four villages in the county are to get funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, it was announced last week.

Carlingfor­d has been approved for €100,000 repair of the medieval boundary wall at Carlingfor­d Heritage Centre and refurbishm­ent of the public toilets, while a similar sum has been allocated to Blackrock for improvemen­ts to footpaths along Rock Road and addition of a looped walkway. Likewise Dromiskin has received €100,00 for the developmen­t of a looped footpath with associated works and lighting.

In the south of the county, Stabannon has received €76,050 for the provision of footpaths and lighting in the village.

The news has been welcomed by local politician­s, with Senator John McGahon saying: ‘ This funding is extremely welcome news for Louth, especially residents of Dromiskin, Carlingfor­d, Stabannon and Blackrock.

He paid tribute to party colleague Cllr Maria Doyle for her hard work and continued efforts in lobbying for funding for Blackrock.

The funding, allocated under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, is part of the Action Plan for Rural Developmen­t and the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Programme for Rural Regenerati­on.

‘ The benefit of previous funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is now being felt countrywid­e and I am delighted today that even more areas in Louth will benefit from the funding,’ said Senator McGahon.

‘Almost €68 million has now been approved for more than 830 projects across the country under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme since it was introduced in the second half of 2016, with more than 600 of these approved since the Action Plan for Rural Developmen­t was launched in January 2017.

He thanked Louth County Council ‘for engaging with local communitie­s in these

instances to help them to identify good projects which have merited support.’

‘ The Government’s commitment to supporting rural Ireland is further underscore­d through the €1 billion Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regenerati­on and Developmen­t Fund which complement­s the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and provides an opportunit­y to deliver more integrated and ambitious projects which will further support the revitalisa­tion of our rural towns and villages,’ he concluded.

Senator Erin McGreehan also welcomed the funding, commenting: ‘ This funding is about helping communitie­s get back on their feet and adapt to the ongoing challenges Covid-19 presents. It will help support our rural communitie­s in this challengin­g time and make our towns and villages safer places to live, work and do business.’

‘Since August, more than €25 million has been provided to over 500 projects nationwide under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. These projects will make a real and lasting difference and demonstrat­es this Government’s strong commitment to supporting our rural communitie­s.

‘It is clear that now more than ever we must support our local communitie­s,’ said Senator McGreehan.

 ?? Picture Ken Finegan/Newspics ?? A file photograph of the Holy Trinity Heritage Centre, Carlingfor­d in snowy weather during 2019.
Picture Ken Finegan/Newspics A file photograph of the Holy Trinity Heritage Centre, Carlingfor­d in snowy weather during 2019.
 ?? Picture Ken Finegan/Newspics ?? A file photograph of Dromiskin.
Picture Ken Finegan/Newspics A file photograph of Dromiskin.
 ??  ?? An aerial view of Blackrock village.
An aerial view of Blackrock village.

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