Over €1.2m for Waterford community projects through Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD has welcomed today’s announcement that over €1.2m worth of funding will be provided to six Waterford communities through the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Projects in An Rinn, Dunhill, Dunmore East, Portlaw, Lismore and Villierstown have been successfully awarded funding as part of €26 million for 116 projects in rural communities across the country.  

The funding, which is provided under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), is being invested in projects that will rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth and town footfall, combat dereliction and vacancy, develop pedestrian zones and outdoor spaces and boost tourism in rural Ireland. 

TVRS has established itself as one of the vital funding mechanisms for rural Ireland and has been a core Fine Gael commitment in Government.

€283,386 will be provided for the development of supporting infrastructure and green space amenities in An Rinn. €300,000 has also been allocated to create additional office capacity, supporting individuals and small businesses in Dunhill Eco Park.

A further €300,000 will fund the upgrade of the existing children’s play area at Counsellor’s Strand, Dunmore East, allowing the area to become a modern inclusive facility. €300,000 has also been allocated for the Portlaw Park Regeneration Project which will lead to the redesign and delivery of upgraded outdoor facilities for Portlaw.

€37,800 will see the development of a project that includes the construction of a riverside facilities centre with parking, public lighting and landscaping in Villierstown – while another €50,000 will go to Lismore to aid design and assessments for the creation of an arts and literacy centre, celebrating acclaimed travel writer Dervla Murphy’s life and writing.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Cummins said: “I’m delighted with today’s news that €1.271.816 is going to Waterford under the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Today’s announcement confirms Fine Gael’s strong commitment to supporting our rural communities both economically and socially. Fine Gael established the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016 and since then it has funded over sixty projects across our county to the tune of over €6million. This level of funding in our rural towns and villages is having a tangible impact.”

“I am thrilled for the six communities benefitting from today’s announcement and I believe it is money well spent. The success of these applications is testament to the work these communities do in partnership with Waterford City and County Council and I want to commend all involved for their tireless work which is leading to the betterment of communities across the county.”