Rural and Community Development Minister, Heather Humphreys has announced a major new rural regeneration fund to target dereliction in landmark buildings. €115m will go towards transforming old courthouses, schools and churches in 23 counties - including Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan and the Blackwater Valley Rural Enterprise Digital Hub in Monaghan - into modern community hubs.
€6.9m is earmarked for the Co Cavan town and will allow for redevelopment and refurbishment of the derelict former Percy French hotel and site in the town centre. A remote working hub and community facilities will act as a focal point for the economic, tourism and community regeneration of the town and its wider hinterland. While €2.7m will be allocated in Monaghan.
The overall funding will also see the development of more town parks and outdoor dining areas. The Minister says she's anxious to address dereliction in rural towns.
"We all know old buildings in our local towns that have laid vacant for far too long. In many cases they are old courthouses or churches and of historical significance or heritage value. They are iconic buildings in our town centres and I don't want to see them lying idle," she added.
"Other exciting projects being funded today will see the development of new town parks as well as pedestrian zones and outdoor dining spaces. This will help to make out towns vibrant spaces for people to live and work in.
“There are also a number of important projects which will help drive job creation in areas such as food innovation and offshore renewable energy. The 23 projects announced today support a range of sectors and services, including town centre regeneration and residency, remote working, enterprise development, tourism development, remote learning, community development and repurposing of heritage buildings."
