Over €99k in funding for Waterford towns regeneration
Two Waterford towns received funding, Ardmore and Portlaw
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced funding of over €99,500 for two Waterford towns, as part of the Town Centre First projects.
This funding will assist local authorities in creating a pipeline of significant, well-developed projects in local towns across Ireland.
A total of 53 projects will be supported with up to €50,000 of funding per project, under Measure 3 of the Town Centre First Suite of Supports 2024 from the Department of Rural and Community Development.
This funding will support pre-development works for projects and support costs including detailed design, planning, procurement, professional fees, assessments and other development costs.
Announcing the funding this Friday, August 23, Minister Humphreys said she was "delighted to announce funding of €2.6 million which will support Local Authorities and Town Teams to develop a strong pipeline of shovel-ready projects in our local towns."
“I look forward to seeing these exciting projects and initiatives progress and make positive impacts for our rural towns and villages”.
Ardmore’s project received €49,500.00 and it will examine the regeneration of the Perks Site, located at the end of the Main Street in the town.
The site currently has many vacant and derelict buildings and land, in which this project will examine the future development and repurposing of these land and buildings, including town housing, a playground, green area and town centre connectivity.
Portlaw’s project received €50,000 and it will examine the conservation of an old courthouse in the town centre into a community centre which will accommodate a significant number of community activities and services.
Welcoming the funding, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, T.D. said; “This government’s investment in town centres in Waterford is essential to help our towns and villages throughout the county thrive."
"I am delighted to see vacant and derelict buildings being looked at in order to repurpose them for the community in Ardmore and likewise in Portlaw where the old courthouse will be examined for its potential as a community centre.
"These are the projects we need to see to attract people and business back into our town centres, and to ensure that our regional economy in the South East is not solely concentrated around one or two urban centres," Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said.
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