Trio of Mitchelstown projects get €433k Leader boost

THE announcement of funding worth more than €430,000 for a trio of Mitchelstown based community and sporting focussed projects has been warmly welcomed by junior Minister David Stanton.

The funding package of just under €433,000 has been allocated under the LEADER programme, operated by the Department of Community and Rural Development.

Mitchelstown Tennis Club has been allocated funding of €200,000 under the Basic Services for Hard to Reach Communities strand of the programme. It will go a long way to covering the cost of a €300,000 project currently being undertaken by the club, that will involve the construction and development of a new, two-story community and sports centre.

The balance of the funding, just over €232,000, has been allocated to the Mitchelstown Community Youth Centre under the LEADER Rural Youth scheme.

Of this, just over €189,000 will be channelled into a €250,000 project to convert the sports hall at the centre into an events centre through the provision of a demountable stage and retractable seating. This will allow the facility to host a wide variety of community focussed events.

The remaining money, just over €43,000 will be used to help offset the cost of building a climbing wall at the centre.

Deputy Stanton, the Fine Gael TD for Cork East and Minister for State at the Department of Justice, said he was delighted to be able to announce the package for Mitchelstown under the latest round of LEADER funding.

“The programme aims to support and enhance rural communities and business by providing financial assistance to improving local facilities and services,” said Mr Stanton.

“I would like to congratulate all those involved in the successful applications for these three very worthwhile projects. I am confident that this funding will result in enhanced sports and community facilities for Mitchelstown and will be of great benefit to those living in the town and the surrounding area,” he added.