€112,500 shared by Wexford towns and villages

By Dan Walsh

106 towns and villages will benefit from €2.8 million in funding with €112,500 being allocated to projects in Wexford under the Town and Villages Renewal Scheme in a package to help communities to shop, socialise and work safely in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, made the announcement today (Bank Holiday Monday).

A cluster of towns and villages in Wexford training and marketing initiative to drive tourism gets €40,000.

New Ross painting of four Norman themed murals on landmark locations around New Ross town centre is granted €25,000.

€25,000 has been made available to promote Gorey’s retail experience through marketing, installation of new street furniture and public realm works and purchase equipment for outdoor events.

€22,500 has been granted for E-commerce website to support the businesses in Bunclody town and Ferns village.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Humphreys said; “It is vitally important that we increase footfall in rural towns and villages by supporting them to adapt to this ‘new normal’ as a result of COVID-19. This funding will benefit communities by altering the streetscapes so that people can shop, work and socialise safely.

“I have increased the funding for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the €17 million rural package that my Department secured under the July Jobs Stimulus. This means that even more towns and villages will benefit from supports. It is vitally important that we increase footfall in rural towns and villages by supporting them to adapt to this ‘new normal’ as a result of Covid-19.”

“Local Authorities throughout the country have been developing creative and innovative proposals to increase footfall and assist businesses in our rural towns and villages.

This tranche of funding announced today is part of an enhanced €25 million Town and Village Scheme which will continue to rejuvenate rural communities across Ireland.

Further approvals under this hugely popular scheme will follow in a series of funding rounds that will be announced in the coming weeks. I expect that up to 500 towns and villages will be supported this year under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme,” concluded Minister Humphreys.