Press release
Minister Humphreys announces €2.6m to support Town Centre First Projects
From Department of Rural and Community Development
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The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced funding of €2.6 million to support the development of a wide range of Town Centre First projects.
This funding will assist local authorities in creating a pipeline of significant, well-developed projects in local towns across Ireland.
A total of 53 projects will be supported with up to €50,000 of funding per project.
This funding will support pre-development works for projects and support costs including detailed design, planning, procurement, professional fees, assessments and other development costs.
Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said:
“I’m delighted to announce funding of €2.6 million today which will support Local Authorities and Town Teams to develop a strong pipeline of shovel-ready projects in our local towns. I am announcing funding for a wide range of projects today from the development of green spaces and parks in our town centres to projects which look at how vacant and derelict buildings in our towns can be brought back into use. I look forward to seeing these exciting projects and initiatives progress and make positive impacts for our rural towns and villages”.
Examples of supported projects include:
- The enhancement of a town centre park in Tullow, Co. Carlow , to provide a modern play area with accessible natural paths and family-friendly areas. This support will prepare detailed designs for the park and bring the project through to the planning stage and the preparation of the tender documentation.
- The development of visitor Hub for Mount Errigal in Dunlewey, Co Donegal
- The development of a community hub in Ladysbridge, Co. Cork to service the needs of the locality including childcare facilities and a remote working hub. The support will progress the development of detailed construction drawings and preparatory groundworks for the development of this community facility.
- Pre-development planning for a new town centre plaza in Kinsale, Co Cork
- Prepare a program of works to improve and upgrade the shopfronts on the Main Square in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick
- Design work to bring the derelict Bridewell Building in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan back into use as a community Hub
A full list of the projects supported under the Project Development Measure under the Town Centre First Suite of Supports 2024 is available below:
Table of Towns and Funding - Town Centre First: Project Development Measure 2024
Funding under Measure 3 of the Town Centre First Suite of Supports 2024. Published August 2024.
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NOTES TO EDITOR:
Our Rural Future
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2022-2025. 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. The policy’s objectives will be achieved through the delivery of more than 150 commitments to be implemented across a range of government departments and agencies. Economic, social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of Our Rural Future.
Town Centre First
Town Centre First contains 33 unique actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, visit and run a business. Town Regeneration Officers in all relevant Local Authority areas are being funded by the Department to drive forward Town Centre First on a local level. The National Town Centre First Office is a key driver of Town Centre First, capturing good practice and building the skills and competencies of Town Regeneration Officers, town teams and local authorities to deliver Town Centre First.
Town Centre Suite of Supports 2024
The Department launched a new Town Centre First Suite of Supports in February 2024 that is providing an additional investment of €4 million for rural communities across Ireland.
This Suite of Supports is implementing a series of measures for rural communities. Each measure is accompanied by its own eligibility criteria, thereby targeting a number of towns per county.
These supports ensure that resources are effectively allocated and provide clear support to local communities and town teams in leading the revitalisation of their towns and villages.
The new package of supports will support the following measures:
1. Town Team Support Fund: This measure supports the establishment and/or development of town teams where they are not already well established and/or the development of town health checks.
2. Town Centre First Plan: This measure supports the development of a TCF plan in a rural town.
3. Project Development Measure: This measure creates a pipeline of significant, well-developed projects which may subsequently progress to construction stage, subject to the availability of future funding. Details of all supports projects and towns through these measures can be found here.