Ó An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail
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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today (Wednesday 31 May) officially opened a range of rural development projects during a visit to county Offaly.
All of the projects received investment under the government’s rural development policy, Our Rural Future.
The Minister’s visit began in Croghan where she performed the official opening of Croghan Community Centre Extension. The centre received almost €100,000 under the CLÁR programme.
The Ballycommon to Kilbeggan greenway link was also officially opened. The new greenway will provide an invaluable recreational amenity for the local community and visitors alike.
Speaking in Ballycommon, Minister Humphreys said:
“This a great day for the communities of Tullamore, Ballycommon and Kilbeggan as we formally unveil the country’s newest greenway.
“Since COVID-19, we have all developed a deep appreciation of outdoor amenities – they really have taken on a newfound importance in all our lives.
“And I’m delighted that under my department’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, we have invested over €313,000 towards this wonderful outdoor recreational amenity.”
At Clara, the link from Clara Town to Clara Life Bog Project was unveiled. It will provide a safe walking and cycling link between the Clara Bog Visitor Centre and the Clara Bog Nature Reserve.
The Minister also announced a strategic partnership between her department and Bord na Móna to develop a dedicated strategy for the development of recreational amenities on Bord na Móna lands:
“Today, I’m also delighted to announce the start of a new strategic partnership between my department of Rural and Community Development and Bord na Móna.
“This is all about working together to develop our bog lands and enhance the tourism potential of the midlands.
“I already have a strategic partnership in place with Coillte in relation to our forest parks.
“So now, we are joining up with Bord na Móna – and I really want to thank them for their role in this new partnership.”
As part of the strategic partnership between the department and Bord na Móna, the Minister is providing €50,000 funding towards the cost of developing an outdoor recreation strategy. The strategy will set the direction and focus for the development of recreational amenities on Bord na Móna lands.
Later was a visit to Mucklagh where the Minister unveiled the upgrade at Brocca Road. Funded under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme the project has enhanced the public space and improved connectivity and pedestrian access in the village.
The Minister continued on to Birr where she visited The Green in the town. This project received €200,000 in funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to upgrade the public realm and to improve access for visitors from Birr Castle to the town centre.
The Minister’s final stop of the day was in Shannonbridge where she officially opened a number of projects funded under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. These included the enhancement of an outdoor space at the Shannonbridge Tourist Office/Lock House and improvements to link the bridge traversing the River Shannon.
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It offers a blueprint for a thriving and inclusive rural Irelands and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for small to medium capital projects in towns and villages across Ireland. In total the TVRS has now provided over €149 million for more than 1,600 projects across Ireland.