Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

I am delighted to announce tonight that County Galway has been granted nearly €6.2 million for a wide range of regeneration projects.
Areas such as Athenry, Tuam, Gort, Dunmore and Kinvara are all set to benefit from allocations under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Athenry will receive a grant of €3,544,000 for the development of the BIA Innovator project and to establish Athenry as a food and tourism centre. The grant will also provide for upgrades to Athenry Town Centre to create a new, dynamic, public realm.
Galway will also benefit from an allocation to a number of counties for National Parks, where Derrycragg Nature Trail will receive €80,000 for upgrading.
Category 2 funding of €525,000 has been allocated to Galway County Council for street widening works at Bridge Street, Dunmore, while another €175,000 has been allocated to the council to develop a master plan for Tuam Town Centre, the Railway Station site, the Fire Station site and the Town Hall.
Also under this category, Kinvara will receive €124,781 to bring forward a full design for the implementation of its board walk project, which will provide access from the village to Dunguaire castle.
The Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark in Clonbur has been awarded €969,387 for its future development.
Coole Park Visitor Experience has been awarded €250,000 to progress its design to construction stage. The proposed design for the Connemara Visitor Centre has been boosted by a grant of €500,000.
The funding will provide a major boost to the regeneration of our towns and villages in Galway.
As Minister of State in the Department for Rural and Community Development, I am determined to support improvements for all areas across the county.
It is one of a range of measures being undertaken by my Department under the Programme for Partnership Government to help revive and rejuvenate Irish towns and villages.
I am delighted to see that communities are taking such an active part in planning for their future.
Category One projects are described as “shovel ready” and construction will begin on them immediately.
Category Two projects are those that are in the design stage and funding will allow them to progress to Category One status for further funding in the next round.
This is the second tranche of funding to be announced under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, following an initial allocation last November.
To date, County Galway has benefited from a total funding allocation of €8,273,770 out of a national allocation of €86,256,077.