Eastern bridge top of Council’s fund wish list
SLIGO County Council is racing against the clock to get applications into two Government Departments for funding for major projects under the Project Ireland 2040 Plan.
There are two funds, one rural, one urban, which have put a call out for proposals by Friday 28th September.
Councillor Chris MacManus, who tabled a motion asking what progress Sligo had made in applying for some of the combined ¤3 billion fund.
Some of the ‘ready to go’ urban projects the Council hopes will be funded include the Eastern Garavogue Bridge (¤22m), the O’Connell Street Enhancement (¤2.2m) and a Yeats World Centre (¤12-18m).
That proposal is for an innovative cultural centre for Sligo which will capture the Yeats’ family legacy, the “identity, energy and spirit of this region and will be a transformative building project for Sligo,” according to Acting Director of Services Margaret McConnell.
‘Ready to go’ rural projects the Council is bidding for funding for include the National Mountain Bike Centre at Coolaney (¤5.6m), the Surfing Centre of Excellence at Strandhill (¤2m), the Enniscrone Pavillion, Cliff Bath House and Promenade Re-development and Visitor Centre (¤2m).
The Council can apply for funding to develop other projects at earlier stages, such as a new Wilderness Route (¤3m) along the Sligo Way from Coolaney to Ballycastle in Mayo, a sailing marina at Rosses Point (¤2.5m), a Food Hub at Achonry (¤1-2m), improvements to Carrowmore car park (¤500k), an activity centre at Rosses Point (¤500k).
They’ ll also look for funding to develop the streetscape of Wine Street Car Park and the city centre (¤8-10m) and a footbridge beside Markievicz Bridge (¤2m).
Cllr MacManus welcomed the update and called for “unity” among agencies involved in the projects going forward.