Money en route to Laois Tidy Towns groups

Tidy Towns committees in Laois are getting €34,000 in direct funding to support their preparations for the 2024 SuperValu TidyTowns competition.

A total of 25 groups accross the county will be eligible for Government support between €1,000 and €4,000 each.

All of the SuperValu TidyTowns Groups in Laois who entered the competition in any of 2021, 2022 and 2023 will be eligible to apply.

All eligible groups will be contacted before Christmas to confirm their funding. All projects and initiatives funded under this support must be completed by July 31st, 2024.

Minister of State Seán Fleming welcomed the funding for entrants in a competition which was won by Abbeyleix Tidy Towns this year.

"The TidyTowns is all about community and pride in your local area. This funding will help the local groups to transform their communities and local environment.

"I want to thank all of the volunteers in Abbeyleix TidyTowns and all of the Laois TidyTowns groups for all of their hard work and dedication," he said.

His fellow Minister of State Pippa Hackett was also pleased.

“I am delighted to receive confirmation that €1.5 million will be made available to support local TidyTowns groups with their preparations for the 2024 competition. Tidy Towns groups across Laois do incredible work maintaining our towns and villages, on a voluntary basis, and for the benefit of us all. Their work make our communities more innovative, more sustainable and better places in which to work, live and raise a family," said the Green Party senator.

Government support for SuperValu TidyTowns Groups 2024 as follows:

Eligible for €1,000 grant

• Ballacolla
• Camross 
• Clough 
• Cullohill 
• Emo 
• Killasmeestia 
• Pike of Rushall 
• Spink 
• Killeen 
• Attanagh 
• Donaghmore 
• Ballinakill 
• Borris in Ossory 
• Castletown 
• Clonaslee 
• Durrow 
• Errill 
• Killeshin 
• Ballybrittas

Eligible for €2,000 grant:

• Mountmellick
• Stradbally
• Mountrath
• Abbeyleix

Eligible for €3,000 grant

• Portarlington

Eligible for €4,000 grant

• Portlaoise

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys announced on Friday, October 27 an allocation of €1.5 million to support local TidyTowns around Ireland.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the tens of thousands of TidyTowns volunteers who give their time and skills so generously over the years. Everything you do locally benefits us all. I encourage younger people and our new communities in particular to get involved in 2024, to further enrich this wonderful competition.

 “I am confident that the funding provided by my Department will continue to make a real difference to the towns and villages of Ireland,” she said.

This year marked the 65th anniversary of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition with over 880 towns and villages entering the competition in 2023.