€1.1 million for seven Mayo Town and Village Renewal Scheme projects
FUNDING of €1,165,343 has been allocated to seven Mayo areas under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2022.
Balla, Ballycastle, Belmullet, Partry, Ballyhaunis, Louisburgh and Ballina have been selected under the latest round of the scheme, Deputy Michael Ring has confirmed.
“The locations submitted ambitious projects which will reap great rewards for their respective communities,” he commented.
The successful projects are:
Balla - Development of a community park in village centre and a community and enterprise hub in vacant courthouse building (€120,000).
Ballycastle - Refurbishment of a vacant, former woodworking building, upgrading it to a state-of-the-art audio-visual and lecture theatre complementing the newly developed eco-campus environmental facility in Ballycastle (€245,843).
Belmullet - Redevelopment of existing semi derelict Canal House to provide a dedicated youth facility, base for outdoor activities and a link to the existing canal bank walk (€500,000).
Partry - Repurposing of a community owned building for remote working and development of a community park in the village of Partry (€100,000).
Ballyhaunis: Streetscape enhancement measures (€100,000).
Louisburgh: Condition and architectural surveys, visitor experience design, architectural states one to four RIAI for the Grace O’Malley Visitor Experience (€50,000). (€20,000 has already been spent on a feasibility study for this project.)
Ballina: Planning and design of a coordinated approach to the lighting programme Light Up Ballina (€49,500). This may include traditional Christmas lighting, Frosty Festival hosted by Scouts, Jackie Clarke Collection festivities and lights spectacular for the 300th anniversary of the establishment of Ballina.
Said Deputy Ring: “The benefit of previous rounds of funding can be seen in a number of places and I am pleased these towns and villages will have opportunity to reap the rewards from this scheme."
Deputy Alan Dillon said this is fantastic news for the towns and villages who have been awarded funding by the Department of Community and Rural Development.
He commented: “I am looking forward to these substantial projects being brought to fruition. They will be of enormous benefit to each of these local communities.
“I wish to thank my colleague, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys.
“I also wish to thank Mayo County Council for their efforts and cooperation in engaging with local communities to identify these projects and urge them to assist in developing them without delay.”
Tribute was paid by them to the local councillors who lobbied hard for the funding for each area - Cyril Burke, Donna Sheridan, Gerry Coyle, Jarlath Munnelly and Peter Flynn.