Nine community projects dotted throughout the hinterland of Athlone and the South Roscommon region are the recipients of funds in the latest tranche of announcements from the county’s LEADER programme.
Ranging from large scale infrastructure to smaller scale training and assistance, these project all have the common aim of improving the quality of life in the region by developing sustainable communities, individuals and businesses. The funding has resulted in innovative and bespoke undertakings by local communities, businesses and individuals, meeting local needs and addressing gaps in current local infrastructure and job creation.
Beneficiaries include Drum Heritage Ltd., Athlone Baysports Ltd., Monksland Town Team, Clonown Community Company, St. Brigid’s GAA sports and Social, St. Aidan’s GAA Club, Portrun Development Association CLG, Athleague Community Centre Company and Roscommon Regional Game Council, all of whom will now enhance their relevant enterprises with the allocated funding.
Tomás Beades, Operations Manager with Roscommon LEADER Partnership, the implementation partner for the delivery of the LEADER Programme, has expressed the company’s delight at reaching the budgetary mid-point.
“We were committed from the start of 2018 that we would have €3.3 million (50 percent of the overall project budget ) allocated by December. It’s been a hard slog and we couldn’t have done it without the project promoters and other agencies and bodies involved in the delivery of the LEADER Programme,” Mr. Beades commented.
Mr. Beades paid special tribute to the RLP Project Development Officers who worked individually with the project promoters to develop their project ideas and helped bring them to fruition.
Chairman of Roscommon Local Community Development Committee1 (LCDC ), Cllr. Laurence Fallon, has stated this is an essential investment and will have a positive impact on businesses and communities across the county. Thanks were extended to Roscommon LEADER Partnership Board and staff and the staff of Roscommon County Council for their professionalism and commitment to the programme.
“Without the hard work, co-operation and commitment from all involved in the delivery of the programme in the county, we would not have reached this milestone,” Cllr. Fallon remarked.
This remarkable achievement places the LEADER Programme in Roscommon ahead of the national picture in terms of funding approved to projects. The LEADER Programme is due to run until at least 2020 and Tomás Beades has confirmed that there is still funding available to local community and voluntary group as well as individuals and business throughout the county.
