Failure to secure rural funding a ‘huge blow’
THREE WICKLOW PROJECTS MISS OUT ON SHARE OF €62M RURAL FUND
FAILURE to secure a share of the €62 million rural regeneration fund is a ‘ huge blow’ for Rathdrum, Baltinglass and Kilcoole, according to a local TD.
Last week, Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring announced that 66 projects around the country would share €62 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Funding. While five projects in neighbouring County Wexford secured over €2 million, not one project in Co Wicklow was successful, despite efforts by Wicklow County Council to submit its three strongest projects for consideration.
Applications were invited under two categories: Category 1 was for projects considered ‘shovel-ready’, while Category 2 related to applications which need funding for further development before being ‘ready to go’.
Wicklow County Council arranged a number of workshops last year before entering Rathdrum, Baltinglass and Kilcoole as Category 2 applicants.
Deputy Pat Casey is at a loss as to why none of the Wicklow projects received funding.
‘It’s very disappointing for the towns involved as a lot of work went into the submissions for Rathdrum, Baltinglass and Kilcoole. Workshops were held and it was established that these were the three most deserving projects in Wicklow, yet none of them have received any funding,’ said Deputy Casey.
‘Other counties fared very well, including neighbouring counties. We have a senior and junior Government Minister here in Wicklow so we really should be getting more of a fair crack at securing funding. It’s a huge blow for all three towns as they do require regeneration works,’ said Deputy Casey.
While no Wicklow-specific projects were successful, two projects were granted funding that will have an impact in the Garden County.
National Parks and Reserves received funding of €3,915,000 under category 1 and an additional €1,466,250 under category 2 for works in counties Wicklow, Mayo, Donegal, Galway, Clare and Kerry.
The International Mountain Biking Project, submitted by Coillte, received €10,262,900 to provide standard mountain biking trails at locations in Wicklow (Ballinastoe), Dublin (Ticknock), Offaly, Laois, Sligo, Limerick and Cork.
However, Deputy Casey has questioned how much of the combined funding streams will be invested in Wicklow.
‘ The Department hasn’t been very descriptive about where the money is likely to be spent. I know there is a mention of hybrid buses [in the National Parks funding] but that doesn’t apply to Wicklow because we don’t have any of them in this county. I wouldn’t be overly confident over how much of that spend will take place in Wicklow’.
Meanwhile, Minister Simon Harris has welcomed the funding provided for the National Parks and International Mountain Biking Project.
‘Part of the fund will specifically target the development of a International Mountain Biking Project at Ballinastoe. This flagship national project will develop international standard mountain biking trails which will provide recreational, health and tourism benefits. Significantly, the fund through two streams will focus on the development of our National Park lands here in County Wicklow. It will aid the implementation of the Tourism Interpretative Master Plan for Ireland’s National Parks and Nature Reserves,’ said Minister Harris.