Rathdowney becomes one of the first towns in Ireland to have town centre plan published

Rathdowney has become one of the first towns in Ireland to have its own Town Centre Plan published today. 

The local Town Team, made up of community representatives, can now begin to implement the Rathdowney strategy to regenerate and revitalise the town.
 

It comes as Mountmellick has been approved to develop its own Town Centre First Plan. €30,000 of Government funding will be allocated to the local Town Team in Mountmellick to complete a comprehensive and strategic plan to address the challenges impacting the area.

"This is very good news for both of these Laois towns," said Sean Fleming TD. 

"Each of these towns are different and the communities in each area know and understand the challenges they face. This will help also help to bring vacant and derelict properties, in both towns, back into use.

"This announcement today will give the Rathdowney and Mountmellick communities the power to revitalise and advance their town centres.

"I want to thank the local community in Rathdowney for their hard work in putting together this town plan and I want to wish those who will be involved in the development of the Town Centre First Plan for Mountmellick well."

Each local authority now has a Town Regeneration Officer in place to manage the implementation of these plans locally and to work with the Town Teams. This officer will also assist each of these towns in their applications for funding to implement these plans.