Community groups within Athlone and the wider county will benefit from support funding recently announced by the Government.
A sum totalling €282,239 has been allocated to 229 local projects to ensure relevant projects can be developed or further enhanced within the respective community groups.
Speaking upon the announcement, local Fine Gael Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, stated that the focal point of the funding is to support local groups with intended improvement to their facilities.
“I fully welcome the announcement by my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys for Community Support Fund Allocations in Westmeath.
“The 2022 Community Support Fund was launched in November 2022 with funding of €10 million available. €100,000 of this funding was ring-fenced specifically to support Women’s Sheds. The key theme of the fund is to support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their energy bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities.
“The Community Support Fund is a once off fund provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by Local Community Development Committees, with support from the Local Authority.
“I am delighted to confirm over €282,000 in funding for 229 local projects across County Westmeath as part of my Department’s Community Support Fund. Through ‘Our Rural Future’, I want to support locally led, ground-up projects in local communities across the country. This funding is all about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs with their energy costs, whether it’s the electricity bill, insurance costs or other overheads.
“While these grants are small in nature, they can make a big difference by allowing local community organisations to carry out much needed works in their area.
“I fully appreciate the fantastic work carried out by volunteers in communities across the country whether it’s the local Parish Hall Committee, the Development Association or the local Senior Citizens Group. These local committees work hard to make sure they can keep the lights on and run fantastic local services and events for young and old to enjoy.
“I would like to thank Weatmeath County Council and Local Community Development Committee for their assistance in administering this fund,” Deputy Burke stated.
Over €500,000 for Westmeath Local Improvement Schemes
Meanwhile, Deputy Burke has confirmed that an additional sum of €194,000 has been allocated to Westmeath County Council for repairs and improvement works on rural roads and laneways bringing the annual total to €515,416.
“I welcome the funding of €194,321 allocated to Westmeath under the local improvement scheme. This is on top of the €321,095 that was allocated in the first round of funding, announced earlier this year.
“This money can be used for non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by local authorities but are critical for rural residents - providing access to homes, farms and businesses, as well as outdoor amenities.
“Eligible roads under the scheme include non-public roads that provide access to parcels of agricultural land, or provide access for harvesting purposes for two or more persons. Also included are non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards.
“I would appeal to Westmeath County Council to utilise the funding to address any backlog of applications that they currently have. The overall funding is a significant increase on the allocation provided last year,”
“In our rural constituency, I know all too well what it is like when a milk truck cannot gain access to collect the milk and I know too well how poor quality roads in rural Ireland can negatively impact on families and businesses.
“This funding is all about making peoples’ lives that bit easier and ensuring ‘Our Rural Future’ is bright and we have good access to homes, farms, businesses and local amenities,” Deputy Burke concluded.
