Laois allocated €161,794 for Outdoor Dining Facilities

Big funding boost for outdoor dining in Laois

Sean Fleming T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Finance is pleased to confirm that Laois County Council have been allocated €161,794 under Fáilte Ireland’s Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme. Hynd’s Square Portlaoise has been allocated €129,446 and Durrow €32,348.

The Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme is a €17million scheme announced in March 2021 and today’s announcement relates to Part Two of the Scheme – Weatherproofing & Outdoor Dining Infrastructure

Laois County Council applied for and was granted funding for 2 locations to develop streets and public spaces to facilitate year-round weather-proofed outdoor dining with the objective that these works will increase the outdoor dining capacity. Roof structures and  awnings are key elements while also ensuring the safety for all.

“I would like to acknowledge the good work by Laois County Council in securing the funding through their applications and I look forward to work commencing in these 2 areas in the near future.”

Minister Pippa Hackett added the following statement:

“Laois deserves to have its towns enhanced for visitors and residents alike so I’m delighted to see Portlaoise receiving €129,446 and Durrow receiving €32,348 to create permanent outdoor dining structures. My colleague Catherine Martin is ensuring that all parts of the country get to showcase their tourism offering. Well done to all at Laois County Council who were involved in applying for this funding.”

Independent TD for Laois/Offaly Carol Nolan has warmly welcomed the announcement that three locations within the constituency are set to benefit from funding being allocated under the Fáilte Ireland- Local Authority Weatherproofing & Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme. 

Deputy Nolan was speaking after the Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin confirmed to her that Laois County Council will receive funding to provide services at Dublin Road, Durrow (€32,348) and Hynd’s Square, Portlaoise (€129,446) while Offaly County Council will receive a significant funding allocation of €200,000 to develop facilities at O’Connor Square, Bridge St, Millennium Square, in Tullamore:

“I was delighted to be informed that these locations in Laois/Offaly were 3 of the 19 areas chosen for support under the Scheme.

It is vitally important that people have the option of being able to eat locally and to support the local economy in this way.

As I understand it the funding will also be used to create urban tourism centres that will enable access to outdoor seating for extended periods throughout the year with the projects expected to be completed by Summer 2022.  

Anything that strengthens local communities and local enterprise is to be welcomed and I have no hesitation in doing so today.

I will continue working hard to ensure that more locations throughout the constituency receive funding enabling them to provide similar amenities,” concluded Deputy Nolan.