€700k for projects in latest round of Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding

Meath projects are to benefit from €700,000 in funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme announced by Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys last week.

The local projects set to receive a cash injection include €250,000 for a multi-use community centre in Kilmainhamwood; €250,000 for a multi-purpose community hall in Enfield; €100,000 for the upgrade of Dunboyne Playground and €100,000 for Kilcloon Village Square.

Funding of €250,000 has been announced to convert the derelict Barrack House building in Kilmainhamwood into a multi-use community centre, while the former St Patrick's Hall in Enfield will also be brought back into use with €250,000 announced for it to be transformed into a multi-purpose hall.

Dunboyne Playground is to receive €100,000 to redevelop the playground and provide more age specific play equipment for younger and older age groups as well as the repair of the existing skate park.

Funding of €100,000 has been announced for the Kilcloon Village Square project. This proposal aims to develop the village square into a fully inclusive, accessible space which caters for all sections of the community and acts as a focal point in the village. Work on phase one of the Kilcloon community Centre is nearing completion and news of the funding has been welcomed by Kilcloon Community Centre (KCC). This grant is the first of its kind to be awarded to Kilcloon. It will provide for a much needed amenity and multi-purpose space for a wide range of users of all ages with active and passive spaces for socialising, exercising and meeting.

Cllr Brian Fitzgerald welcomed the funding saying: "Anything that will give a focal point to the area, is to be welcomed. Best of luck to KCC with the plans."

The €100,000 allocated for Dunboyne was welcomed by Cllr Maria Murphy who thanked the 900 people who completed the survey on the playground last year saying their contributions formed the basis of the application for funding which will upgrade the playground to provide additional play equipment, new fencing, new seating and replacement of the skatepark.

She added that the Dunboyne Playspace Forum, a group of parents who have come together to work, has ambitious plans for the upgrade of the playground and the €100,000 is only part of the total needed.

So far approximately €150,000 in total has been committed to the project, which will cost in the region of €200,000 altogether.

Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD, has welcomed the news that Enfield is to benefit from €250,000 under the scheme and congratulated Enfield Development Group for working with Meath County Council to repurpose the old landmark building as a usable space for the community.

Nationally, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced funding of almost €18.5 million to benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.

The funding is being provided under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of Our Rural Future and places a strong emphasis on projects which tackle vacancy and dereliction by bringing landmark town centre buildings back to life.