Cork’s Towns and Villages Receive Major Funding Boost

The Minister for Rural & Community Development, Michael Ring T.D., today announced that 7 no. towns and villages across Cork County have been successful in the 2019 Town & Village Renewal Scheme. The scheme, which is managed and operated in conjunction with Cork County Council, will see significant investment in public realm and local infrastructure.

The initiative will see locations such as Ballydesmond, Doneraile and Dromahane in North Cork all benefitting from public realm upgrades and town/village enhancements. In West Cork, a new riverside walk will be developed in Glengarriff, together with improvements to existing walkways and planting. Public realm improvement works will also be carried out in Durrus. Meanwhile, in South Cork, there will be significant investment in the refurbishment of the Community Hall in Ringaskiddy, as well as the installation of bicycle racks and associated infrastructure across the wider East Cork area.

The overall scheme involves an investment of €737,500 by the Minister in Cork County, with significant additional funding being provided by Cork County Council from its own resources in order to maximise the impact and benefits of the schemes.

Welcoming news of the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme allocations for Cork County, Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey extended his congratulations to the successful communities and noted that the County’s towns and villages form the very fabric of the County of Cork.

“The renewal and regeneration of our County towns and villages is a key priority for Cork County Council and has massive positive benefits not just for those communities but also for the social and economic wellbeing of the wider Cork County region. The significant funding allocation for Cork County reflects Cork County Council’s ongoing commitment to rural regeneration.”

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Christopher O’ Sullivan, congratulated both the staff and communities involved in developing the applications.

“Towns and villages are at the heart of our rural communities and play an important role in developing Cork to its full potential. Investment in our county towns and villages makes them more attractive places to live, work and visit. Today’s funding announcement supports Cork County Council’s aim to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable towns and villages throughout the county.”

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key initiative under the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and is part of the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration Programme. The projects are expected to commence in 2020 and reach completion by the end of Q2 2021 at the latest.