Latest Laois News: Borris-in-Ossory site to benefit from ‘Our Rural Future’ funding

‘Our Rural Future’ funding to transform Borris-In-Ossory Courthouse

Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces €21.5 million for 27 landmark regeneration projects nationwide

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced €21.5 million for 27 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country.

The funding, under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), is being invested in projects that will rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth and footfall, combat dereliction, develop pedestrian zones and outdoor spaces and boost tourism in Rural Ireland. 

A number of the projects approved for funding involve the re-purposing of old, derelict and historical buildings into modern-day remote working hubs, as well as enterprise, cultural and community facilities.

The funding being announced today will bring these projects through the development stage and to the point where they are ready to commence works.

Minister Pippa Hackett welcomed the news as follows:

“Regenerating our landmark buildings and keeping them in use makes good sense as we prioritise town centres. It’s a crying shame to see them going derelict so I’m delighted to see projects in my constituency included in this funding. The renovation of Borris-in-Ossory Courthouse for remote working and community use makes perfect sense. I’m also delighted that Edenderry is to get a new community library, which will also provide opportunities for future development of community, leisure and cultural facilities. The vacant secondary school in Ferbane will be developed, along with the reuse of the existing Library and Heritage Centre. This is all very good news for Laois and Offaly.”

Announcing the funding for the 27 projects, Minister Humphreys said:

“In 2022, we will continue to roll-out unprecedented levels of investment in Rural Ireland – making our towns and villages even better places to live, work, raise a family and run a business. 

“Today’s announcement is proof of our strong commitment to supporting our rural communities both economically and socially.

“The projects being invested in represent the huge ambition that underpins ‘Our Rural Future’ and will have a truly transformational impact right across the country.

“When complete, these projects will leave a lasting difference on these locations for generations to come, benefitting tens of thousands of families in Rural Ireland.

The successful projects announced today include:

• Edenderry Regeneration Phase II, Co. Offaly – €2.15 million: This significant investment will turn a major derelict site in the town centre into a state-of-the-art community centre, providing for a community library, as well as leisure and cultural facilities.

• Borris-in-Ossory, Co, Laois – €212,000: This project involves the renovation and re-use of the historic courthouse building as a remote working and community facility.

• Nenagh, Co. Tipperary – €1.2 million: The Rialto Digital and Enteprise Hub will replace a disused cinema in the town. The plans will see the re-development of a brownfield site behind the hub, a new streetscape and will explore the potential provision of town centre housing and a new public amenity.

• Callan, Co. Kilkenny – €862,000: This project is focussed on the regeneration of the historic core of Callan Town and will re-develop existing historical buildings to provide a library, youth, community, arts space and a remote working hub

Today’s announcement relates to Category 2 of the Fund which provides seed funding for strategic, large-scale projects which will assist in delivering town and village regeneration and economic and enterprise development.  

The funding provided will enable the development of these projects to a high standard and get them to a point where they are ready to commence works.  The funding also ensures a continuing ready-made pipeline of projects which can be progressed in the future with the support of the Fund or other funding streams.

The applications for funding were subjected to a comprehensive assessment process by the Department, with oversight provided by an independent Project Advisory Board, made up of representatives drawn from key Government Departments along with external independent experts.

Further details of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are available on the Department of Rural and Community Development website at https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/c77144-rural-regeneration-and-development-fund/

A full list of the successful projects is below.