Funding of more than €640,000 has been allocated to Westmeath through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Minister at the Office of Public Works, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, was in Granard yesterday morning with Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, to announce the funding.
Minister Moran said the scheme is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development. In particular, he said he is delighted to secure funding of more than €90,000 for Moate where there will be provision of additional car and bus parking facilities at the Dun na Si Amenity Park and Visitor Centre.
Minister Moran added that he was also very happy to see Ballinahown secure €32,000 three small mobile sales points for craft and artisan foods.
“This will help to create additional tourism attractions to increase visitor numbers to the Ballinahown area, developing additional small scale craft and food businesses in the area,” Minister Moran said. “The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is all about creating jobs, developing and sustaining rural areas, and ultimately keeping them alive and vibrant.”
The news was also welcomed by Longford-Westmeath TD, Peter Burke.
“I was delighted to hear directly from Minister Ring this morning that Westmeath has again been a large beneficiary of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme,” he said.
“I have made a number of representations to Minister Ring and his staff since his Department has been established by the new Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, in June. It is a very important Department for Westmeath as much of our population live rurally and we need investment in our towns and villages to keep them alive and vibrant.
“This is exactly what the Town and Village Renewal scheme aims to do, and this money is going to very worthwhile projects which will pay dividends for the communities they are based in. I am glad to have worked alongside a number of these projects and to see them being delivered.”
