Significant funding in excess of €1.5 million has been allocated to create a town centre focus for Monksland by Roscommon County Council in conjunction with the Department of Rural &and Community Development.
The project will further enhance the development of Monksland with a new community hub, linear park and increased pedestrian and cycle linkages between residential and commercial areas including the lands between the old and new Tuam roads.
The news was welcomed by local Independent Deputy, Denis Naughten, who noted that the allocation of such significant funding would greatly enhance Monksland as the South Roscommon townland continues to positively evolve.
“This funding is to complement previous rounds of funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development, including a €3.6m investment that is presently being drawn down for the development of a new enterprise centre in Monksland.
“Over €5m of the funding to be invested in the Monksland area is as a direct result of decisions I made in Government to establish funding streams through the Urban & Rural Regeneration Funds to get vital local projects like the ones in Monksland off the ground.
“These funding programmes allow local communities and the County Council to design projects that will drive forward economic development, rather than Government Departments designing a ‘one size fits all’ approach which had failed so many towns previously.
“This new approach is now beginning to help towns and villages across our area reinvent themselves with the long-term objective of making them better places in which to live and to invest.
“But none of this could have been possible without the work and commitment of the Monksland Town Team and the support provided to it by Roscommon County Council,” concluded Denis Naughten.
His thoughts were echoed by local Fine Gael Senator, Aisling Dolan, who noted that the investment was testament to the local community working with regeneration teams to secure such funding.
“It is truly fantastic to see this investment in Monksland and it is a real testament to communities in this area working with the regeneration teams in Roscommon County Council to win this funding.
“The ‘Putting the Heart Into Monksland’ project will see an investment of €1,508,930 to include matching funding from Roscommon County Council.
“This is part of the government’s ‘Our Rural Future’ targeting investment to our towns to ensure that they can develop to their maximum potential. It will tackle vacancy in town centres and encourage more businesses and retailers to invest in Monksland.
“As well as developing a civic area for our the Monksland community to walk, cycle and enjoy, the funding provided will enable the development of this project to a high standard and and arrive at a point where works can commence,” Senator Dolan concluded.
