Laois towns get €100,000 revitalisation boost

More public money is on its way to Laois under a Government drive to revitalise rural town centres around Ireland.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced funding of €2.6 million to support the development of a wide range of Town Centre First projects.

Laois is getting a €100,000 share of what is the latest in a multi-million euro investment of public money. On this occasion Mountrath and Rathdowney are the beneficiaries.

Mountrath will receive €50,000 to complete design studies to reimagine the Town Square which is currently dominated by parking by providing improved public realm, improved pedestrian facilities and a dedicated space for community facilities.

The Department also says €50,000 for Rathdowney will allow for the redesign of the Town Square, which is currently operating as a carpark, by parking by providing an improved public realm, improved pedestrian facilities in a space which it is claimed has potential to become a multifunctional area for markets and events.

Both towns are already officially in the Town Centre First programme with Rathdowney getting the most money under the scheme which was launched in early 2022.

The Rathdowney Town Team is implementing a master plan completed with KPMG and Laois County Council for the town centre with the €100,000 secured in 2022.

At the start of 2024, Mountmellick was chosen as the second Laois town to get full town Town Centre First status. It received €30,000 to allow at local Town Team to complete a strategic and comprehensive plan to address the challenges faced by the town centre. 

Mural on the Square in Rathdowney.

Also in 2024 Mountrath and Ballylinan were allocated €10,000 each to support the development of town teams in each area. Mountrath had a Town Team in place prior to getting the funding. It had already developed a plan for the town.

Laois Offaly TD and Minister of State Seán Fleming welcomed the latest money.

"This funding will support pre-development works for both projects and costs with planning and design, to Mountrath and Rathdowney Town Teams.

"Mountrath and Rathdowney Town Teams are groups of local residents, business people, community representatives, who work with Laois County Council to develop Town Centre First plans to regenerate and develop their areas.

"This is very welcome news for both local communities in Laois. This Government funding for Mountrath and Rathdowney will allow for further regeneration of Laois communities.

"I want to thank all of the local people in both towns for their work on these projects so far and I look forward to the works progressing to make a positive impact for both towns," said the Fianna Fáil TD.

The money was also welcomed by his Fine Gael Government colleague Charlie Flanagan who said the funding will have a positive impact for residents, businesses, and community groups in rural towns and villages and their communities right across Laois. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Mountrath's Square.

“The funding will guarantee there is a strong pipeline of shovel-ready projects in the county with €2.6m of funding for a total of 53 projects across the country.

“The funding also supports exciting projects such as the development of green spaces and parks, community and visitor hubs, shopfront upgrades, and more.

“This is just one of many initiatives and recent funding announcements for County Laois, a clear demonstration of Fine Gael’s intention to ensure our towns and villages are great places to live, work and raise a family in.

“I look forward to seeing these projects and initiatives progress, so vacant and derelict buildings in our towns can be brought back into use,” said the TD.

The Department of Rural and Community Development said on Friday, August 23 that the funding will support pre-development works for projects and support costs including detailed design, planning, procurement, professional fees, assessments and other development costs.

“I am announcing funding for a wide range of projects today from the development of green spaces and parks in our town centres to projects which look at how vacant and derelict buildings in our towns can be brought back into use," said Minister Humphreys.

The Town Centre First initiative was developed under the Government's Our Rural Future future policy for rural Ireland for the period 2022-2025