Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys officially opens rural projects worth over €6 million during visit to Wexford

• Minister opens High Hill Norman Gardens, part of the New Ross Tourism Transformation project
• Minister also turns the sod of the Little Sea – Bannow Bay Estuary Blueway Project

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has officially opened rural projects across County Wexford which have received funding of over €6 million from her department.

All of the projects were funded under the government’s ambitious rural development policy, Our Rural Future.

Her visit to Wexford began at St Aidan’s GAA club in Ferns, where the Minister officially opened a community gym and walking track lights.

The Minster then went to New Ross to open High Hill Norman Garden.

Speaking at the official opening the Minister said:

Next was a visit to Clongeen to open the Community Development Centre extension and then it was on to Little Sea for the turning of the sod of the Bannow Bay Estuary Blueway, near Wellingtonbridge.

When complete, the blueway will provide safe access and facilities for water sports while also connecting three locations: Little Sea / Bannow Estuary, Wellingtonbridge village and Foulksmills village.

Speaking at Little Sea today, the Minister said:

The Minister continued:

The Minister’s next stop was at Our Lady’s Island where she officially opened the Our Lady’s Island Community Project.

After receiving investment from the Department of Rural and Community Development the local community centre was retro-fitted. A coffee shop, new playground, outdoor gym, new footpaths and a car park were also completed as part of the works.

The Minister’s final stop was in Clonard. Here she officially opened the brand new High Meadows Community Hub which was developed with support from the LEADER programme.

This new state-of-the-art facility will be used by the 13th Wexford Scout Group, one of the largest scouting groups in county Wexford.

Speaking about her visit to Wexford today, the Minister said:

Please find full details of the investments and projects launched as part of the Minister’s engagements in Wexford.

Ferns Community Gym and Walking Track Lights

Ferns Community Gym & Walking Track Lights at St Aidan’s GAA was approved for funding of just over €200,000 under the LEADER programme with the gym being allocated €75,106.94 and the walking track lights receiving €26,899.50.

Community Gym: There were three phases of work included in the project; resolving disability access and fire safety issues with the first floor of the building (installing lift, constructing fire escape stairs and fire proofing the upstairs), installing access control & security systems and the fit out of the community gym. The building works, access control and security elements were essential works; until complete the upstairs of the building could not be safely accessed or utilised by members of the public. To ensure the chosen equipment for the gym fit out met needs and is fit for purpose, the specification has been developed based on priorities identified in the community survey (349 surveys returned) and through industry research carried out by the committee.

Walking Track Lights: Installation of LED lighting to an existing 720 metre to a community walking track which is utilised by an estimated 300 weekly users. Project work included excavation of a trench for cabling and piping, installation of 24 six metre poles with LED lighting, installation of controls / timer in the club house and all connections.

High Hill Norman Garden (Part of New Ross Tourism Transformation Project)

The New Ross Tourism Transformation project is a Category 1 project approved for funding of €5,560,000 from the second call for Category 1 applications.

The project is led by Wexford County Council in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the JFK Trust.

The project will develop three visitor attractions in New Ross that will combine renewal of prominent town-centre sites with compelling Tourism experiences. The visitor attractions are:

• William Marshal – The Greatest Knight that ever lived’ is the development of a new world class visitor attraction telling the Norman Knight’s unique story in an historic, vacant premises on South Quay (formerly known as the ‘Murphy Building)
• The Norman Way – the New Ross Town Experience will see a major upgrading of the public realm along a Norman historical trail extending from the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, through various Norman sites within the town centre before concluding at the historic St. Mary’s Church. This element includes a major public realm development at High Hill
• Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience Transformation will create a new immersive visitor experience at the existing Dunbrody Visitor Centre, transporting the visitor back in time to experience New Ross in its former role as an emigration port

Clongeen Community Development Centre

Funding was provided under the 2018 and 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme of €200,000 in total. The €100,000 in awarded in 2018 was for the development and refurbishment of the local community hall – extension. €100,000 under the 2020 scheme was for the refurbish Community Centre to develop a remote working hub; a training facility, weekend markets; study hub and community café.

€77,481 was received for 3 projects under the LEADER programme also:

• Arts & Culture project – this project involved the stage area modernisation, restoration and redecoration and is crucial to the success of providing adequate facilities for social interaction, events, performances, etc. in this rural community. The group have provided a modern stage area with adequate lighting and sound facilities, in a comfortable and contemporary atmosphere which encourages local and visiting groups to use the centre and provide a number of quality events, meetings, concerts, various drama/music/singing workshops and training opportunities and a core performance space in the area. Total: €33,544
• Youth Facilities – this project involved renovations to an existing space to create a dedicated youth facility. This was achieved through the renovation and fit out of an existing room within the centre, with required works that included electrical works, installation of timber flooring, kitchen work hub, electrical appliances (dishwasher, fridge, and microwave), dry wipe whiteboard, projector & screen, 20 folding tables and 30 upholstered chairs. Total: €15,438
• Main Entrance & Foyer - this project involved refurbishment works to finalise the phased re-development of the community centre in Clongeen, and included works to the entrance area and foyer area including demolitions, substructures, internal and external walls, roof works, external and internal finishes, floor and ceiling finishes , drainage and downpipes, electrical works and fittings. Total: €28,500

Little Sea - Bannow Bay Project

Funding of €199,800 approved under the 2021 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme Measure 2 for the 11 km blueway amenity in Bannow Bay / Corock River.

The infrastructure will provide safe access and facilities for water sports activities and encourage novices and more accomplished water sport users connect three locations:

• Little Sea / Bannow Estuary
• Wellingtonbridge Village [upstream]
• Foulksmills Village [upstream]

Our Lady’s Island Project

Funding was provided under the 2017 and 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme Accelerated Measure with total funding of €223,400 in total.

• 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme - €123,000 to improve the public realm with economic benefit to the area including:

- playground, outdoor gym and picnic site

- birdwatching and enhanced parking and accessibility works

- footpaths and lighting

- improved access road to Shrine

• 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme Accelerated Measure- €25,000 for a Heritage/Environment exhibition at Our Lady’s island community centre and outdoor seating facilities at various locations in both villages
• 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme - €100,000 to create a tourist experience, to include Information panels; waymarked ancient pilgrimage path; heritage lighting for the Castle and Leaning Tower

€186,800 was received for 2 projects under the LEADER programme:

• Our Lady’s Island Community Centre Extension – this project involved complete extension works to the existing community centre, to ensure its use as a multi-purpose community venue, offering a wider range of community facilities and services in this remote rural community. Total €150,000
• Our Lady’s Island Heritage Exhibition Centre – this project involved the development of an interactive, experiential exhibition in the community centre of Our Lady’s Island, which presents an engaging interpretation of the history, culture and environment of this part of south Wexford. Total €36,800

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme Measure 2 2020 provided €200,000 funding for on trails in the area:

• Our Lady's Island to Carne Trail: The project involves the construction of a walking trail from Our Lady's Island over farm land and around the perimeter of the lake to connect with the Carne Road. The route then returns back to Our Lady's Island providing a roadside path and a looped trail of over 1.5km. The project includes a 300m roadside path to the sports ground
• Kellyswood Interlink Trail: The project interlinks two existing trail, the Riverside Trail leading from the quays in New Ross to Kellyswood trails with a 1km trail. The work also includes completing a looped trail within the wood of 800m

High Meadows Community Hub

The High Meadows Community Hub received funding of €157, 612 under the LEADER programme:

• High Meadows Community Hub – this is the group’s main LEADER project and involved the construction of a community building on a green field site in Clonard, on land donated by Wexford County Council to the 13th Wexford Scout group, one of the biggest scout groups in County Wexford, who are the anchor tenant for this facility. The project included the construction of a two storey modular community building to include site works, main hall, toilets, meeting rooms, kitchen, and circulation space and equipment storage areas. Total: €150,000
• High Meadows Community Hub Blinds & Storage Shed – this most recent project involved purchase of electronic blinds in the main hall to provide of training events, and purchase of insulated storage shed to provide additional storage to the rear of the Hub. Total €57,642

Our Rural Future

Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a commitment of €1 billion by Government to be invested in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.

In total the Fund has now provided over €278 million for 191 projects across the country worth a total of €376 million.

To date, the Fund has provided over €8.1 million for 6 projects located in Wexford worth a total of €12.8 million.

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure. It also provides support for the necessary repair, maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas across Ireland. ORIS provides funding for the development of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas. It funds trails, cycleways, blueways, bridleways, outdoor amenities located near rivers, lakes and beaches.

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for projects that make our towns and villages more attractive and sustainable. Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, almost €93 million has been allocated to more than 1,300 projects across Ireland.

LEADER Programme

The LEADER programme accepts applications based on projects which improve:

• rural tourism
• enterprise development
• broadband
• basic services targeted at hard-to-reach communities
• rural youth
• protection and sustainable use of water resources
• local biodiversity
• renewable energy

The LEADER programme is administered at a local level by 29 local action groups, which contain local representatives from the community, public and private sector. Each group is responsible for selecting and awarding LEADER funding to projects within their geographical area.

A project must be aligned with the priorities of the local development strategy. The total funding available under the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme is €250 million.