Derelict buildings to transform into remote work hubs in new €1bn rural plan
OLD cinemas, courthouses, hotels, and market houses will be transformed into remote working hubs, libraries, and community spaces in a €1billion plan to transform rural Ireland.
Some 24 rural regeneration projects have been chosen by Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys to spearhead rural regeneration plans announced today. The minister’s own constituency features courtesy of €1.3million for New-bliss Enterprise and Digital Hub, in Co. Monaghan, and €795,000 for the former Ballyconnell Market House, Co. Cavan.
The plan also aims to develop pedestrian zones, green areas, outdoor public spaces, focus on combating dereliction and regenerate iconic town centre buildings with new purpose. The Minister also pledged €75million to be spent on the landmark projects under funding from the €1billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
It is anticipated that a large number of the successful projects provide for the regeneration of vacant town centre buildings as remote working and hotdesking facilities.
These projects will support remote workers and commuters to work from and remain in their own local community.
Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said: ‘Today we are putting policy firmly into action and delivering major investment aimed at town centre regeneration and supporting remote working.’ These projects, she said: ‘will breathe new life into towns and villages across the country making them vibrant places for people to live, work, socialise and raise a family.’
Some of the projects include:
● €8.78million for Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Co. Donegal: Restoration of the old Ritz Cinema Heritage Building.
● €6million for Ballymahon, Co. Longford: Renovation of three historic town centre buildings, including the vacant former convent building, the old Boys School and the former Dean Egan Library.
● €4million for Youghal Co. Cork: Derelict buildings on the main street to be transformed into a new library and remote learning hub.
● €2.8million for the Thurles Market Quarter, Co. Tipperary: Renovation of a 19th Century vacant agriculture building to create the
new Thurles Market Quarter.
● €2.55million for Portumna Courthouse Arts Centre, Co. Galway: The vacant courthouse will be the site of a new multi-purpose arts, performance, remote working and social space.
● €8.2million for Carndonagh, Co. Donegal: The regeneration of an old department store into a new demountable canopied area in the Diamond civic space, and public realm improvements.
● €1.9million for Dromahair, Co. Leitrim: Regeneration of an old hotel building and site in the town centre into a new library, e-learning, cultural and creative hub.
● €2.8million for Omeath, Co. Meath: Providing a pedestrian zone in the village centre and improved linkages to the Great Eastern Greenway.
Minister Humphreys continued: ‘I wanted to see innovative projects that would make a real and lasting difference – that’s exactly what the project we are announcing today are about.’
To date, the regeneration fund has provided €249million for 164 projects across Ireland