Ó An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail
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Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today visited County Kildare to officially open 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 was welcomed to the county by Cathaoirleach of County Kildare, Cllr. Naoise Ó Cearúil at Athy Heritage Centre and Museum.
While there she unveiled new branding for the Emily Square and Ernest Shackleton Project, which received an investment of over €2.7 million from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
The project will create a major tourism attraction and revitalise the centre of the town.
The Minister then went on to ‘The Old Hardware Project’ in Narraghmore, a community led social enterprise that has previously received investment from the Town & Village Renewal Scheme.
The Minister cut the ribbon on phase 2 of the project formally opening an additional space that can be used for retail.
The next engagement was at Venture House Remote Working Hub, a co-working hub, located in Crookstown.
Speaking at the Hub, Minister Humphreys said:
“I’m delighted that under the 2021 Connected Hubs funding call, Venture House secured over €48,000, which I understand allowed an increase in capacity by 80 per cent. I know the funding has also allowed for the soundproofing of meeting rooms and the creation of phone booth facilities, both of which give people the option to hold meetings with colleagues in private. And the funding has also enabled the re-purposing of what was a previously a vacant room, re-purposing it into an area that now caters for an additional 10 hot desk spaces.”
Speaking about ongoing support for remote working:
“Everyone here today has experienced the benefits – reduced commute, lower carbon footprint, more time spent with family and friends. But above all, Remote Working gives people a better quality of life. Under Our Rural Future, I committed to bringing together 400 Remote Working facilities under the Connected Hubs network between now and 2025. And I’m delighted to tell you that we now have 220 state of the art facilities on the network – which really demonstrates the appeal of remote working for so many people.”
Next stop was in Monasterevin to launch a new town renewal masterplan that will inform future development.
Then it was on to Kildare Market Square to see how work done during the pandemic has been the catalyst for the regeneration of the town centre with the opening of several new businesses around the square in previously disused buildings.
There are plans for the redesign of the Market Square and the project has received funding of over €1.7 million from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
The Minister’s visit concluded where she opened the first 5km of the Barrow Blueway at Lowtown.
Speaking in Lowtown about her visit to Kildare, Minister Humphreys said:
“There is a huge focus in my Department on investing in the likes of our blueways, greenways, cycleways and walking trails. These natural amenities have been a godsend in terms of meeting up with friends and family and getting some exercise and fresh air. So thank you all so much for your invite to Kildare 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.”
Photography from these events will be available from Ronan Melia
Please find full details of the investments and projects launched as part of the Minister’s engagements in Kildare.
Athy
Narraghmore
Monasterevin
Crookstown
Kildare Town
Lowtown
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.
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.
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.
In relation to projects in County Kildare, the Fund has provided almost €10 million in funding for projects worth €13.5 million.
The Town & Village Renewal Scheme
The Town & 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 €113 million has been allocated to more than 1,400 projects across Ireland.