From Department of Rural and Community Development
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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has visited Lahinch this morning to officially open 2 rural development projects funded by her department.
The Minister’s visit was part of a nationwide tour to promote Our Rural Future.
Our Rural Future is the government’s new rural development strategy, which aims to revitalise towns and villages, promote remote working, and ensure balanced regional development.
The Minister’s first stop of the day was at the Lahinch Leisure Centre. She officially opened the centre and viewed the enhanced public realm also delivered as part of the project, which received an investment of almost €2.9 million from her department under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
The project has delivered a major community, recreation and visitor attraction in the town which will support up to 90 jobs.
Speaking at the event, Minister Humphreys said:
“'Our Rural Future’ is just over a year old – but its impact throughout rural Ireland has been significant. Right across the country, we are delivering unprecedented regeneration of our towns and villages. We are taking old buildings and sites and giving them a new purpose, a new lease of life. That’s exactly what has happened here at this first class facility here in Lahinch.”
The Minister then went on to officially open Lahinch Water Safety Training and Rescue Centre. This centre was supported with a €50,000 investment through the LEADER Programme.
The Minister used the visit to highlight the importance of being safe while on the water this summer season.
Speaking at the centre, Minister Humphreys said:
“I think it is really important that we are opening such a facility today as so many families prepare to head to County Clare and other beautiful parts of Ireland for their summer holidays. Visiting centres like this one in Lahinch provide a stark reminder of the difficulties people can encounter when out on the water. As Minister with responsibility for water safety, I want to take this opportunity too to recognise the extraordinary played by our Coastguard, our emergency services, our lifeguards and our volunteers."
The Minister concluded:
“Finally I look forward to this centre being used to provide the training and development of our volunteers to continue the vital work in keeping the public as safe on the water as possible. So thank you all so much for your invite to Clare today. I really have had a wonderful day, meeting communities and seeing first-hand the positive impact that is taking place under Our Rural Future.”
The Lahinch and Environs Regeneration Project was approved for funding of €2,908,750 from the first call to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The project had a total value of €6.6 million.
The project consisted of 2 main elements, the regeneration and retrofit of the old Lahinch Seaworld building as new regional leisure centre, as well as public realm works, car park facilities and civic amenities at the site.
The new centre is built to NEZ Building – Energy Efficient A2 standard. Clare County Council estimate that the project will provide 100 jobs during construction with 90 sustainable jobs delivered from the businesses on site.
The centre is being built on land provided by the current Lahinch Development Company and Clare County Council. It provides a modern and visible commitment to the safety for all living in and visiting the Lahinch area.
The centre will be run and manned by trained and skilled locals with Water Safety Clare providing management, administrative, education and training support.
The total cost of the building has been raised through Water Safety Clare fundraising throughout the county and with LEADER funding (€50,000).
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.
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.
In relation to projects in County Clare, the Fund has provided almost €10.5 million in funding for projects worth €14.1 million.
LEADER is part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme that is co-funded by the EU, which operates a locally-led, bottom-up, approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas. LEADER forms part of Ireland’s multi-annual Rural Development Programme which is co-financed by the EU and is part of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
The LEADER programme is delivered by 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas. These groups are partnerships of public and private entities from a defined geographical area. LAGs are responsible for identifying and helping to develop local projects which support the themes of Economic Development (including enterprise development and job creation), Social Inclusion and Rural Environment.
Ireland was allocated almost €190 million in European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) funding for the transitional period, €20 million of which is assigned to LEADER. This measure/scheme is supported by EU Recovery Instrument Funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022.