Boost for seaside villages
STRANDHILL and Rosses Point will benefit to the tune of €202,000 under a Public Realm Enhancement scheme.
Led by Sligo County Council, the project will develop plans for pedestrian-friendly village centres in both seaside resorts through re-designed public realm areas, walkways and addressing dereliction.
The announcement was made by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys during a visit to Boyle last Wednesday.
“The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund has already established itself as a key driver of economic and social progress in rural Ireland. I view the Fund as an invaluable resource, providing the targeted, large-scale investment necessary to drive economic recovery and sustainable development in rural areas as facing the challenges arising from the COVID-19 crisis.
“This Fund has now made available over €166 million in funding for projects worth a combined total of €237 million. I am convinced that these projects are laying the foundations for economic and social progress in rural Ireland for many years to come, allowing rural communities to position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities which will emerge as recovery continues.”
The Fund is part of the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Rural Development Investment Programme which is funded under Project Ireland 2040.
The Fund is providing €1 billion in investment over 10 years to support the regeneration and development of rural town, villages and outlying areas. Initial funding of €315 million was allocated on a phased basis over the period 2019 to 2022.
MinisterMin of State Frank Feighan said: “It is importantim that the government supports place like Rosses Point and Strandhill to improve their public realm making them more attractive for visitors and locals alike, driving footfall and economic activity particularly in light of recent challenges” Minister Feighan concluded. While in Boyle the Minister visited the site of the vacant Royal Hotel which will shortly be re-developed as an enterprise hub and remote-working facility with the support of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
The Minister also visited the new Boyle-Lough Key Cycle Corridor, supported by Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, also part of her Department’s Rural Development Investment Programme. These and many other projects in Boyle town centre are the product of Boyle 2040, an ambitious and comprehensive framework for the social and economic regeneration of the town core, delivered by Roscommon County Council and Boyle Town Team.
The Minister commented: “The plans for the regeneration of Boyle are a superb example of collaborative, joined-up thinking in a town planning context, taking account of all the opportunities and challenges faced by the town.”