Press release
Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys opens ‘The Junction’ in Ballinamore, Co.Leitrim
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today (Friday 16th February) visited Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, to officially open The Junction.
Leitrim County Council was awarded funding of €2.47 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to deliver the project.
The project has restored two listed buildings to provide a digital hub and co-working space, an artistic space for the promotion of local arts and crafts, along with a youth facility.
The Junction links directly to the Cavan and Leitrim Greenway and will create jobs, develop local businesses and provide more social activities and facilities for people in the area, as well as those visiting.
The investment comes as part of the Government’s commitment to the revitalisation of rural towns under its Rural Development Policy, Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy which aim to bring more people, business and investment opportunities to Irish towns.
Speaking in Ballinamore today, Minister Humphreys said:
“I am delighted to officially open The Junction in Ballinamore. With the support of €2.47 million from my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund this project has brought two historical buildings back to life to provide much needed facilities for the community.
“This is a fantastic project that will bring will bring increased vibrancy and activity in the town centre and will have significant social and economic benefits for the wider region.”
Our Rural Future
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It offers a blueprint for a thriving and inclusive rural Irelands and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. In total the Fund has now provided over €415m for 215 projects across Ireland, worth a total of €571m.
In relation to projects in County Leitrim, the Fund has provided €21.6 million for 10 projects worth a total of €26.6 million.
Town Centre First
Town Centre First’ contains 33 unique actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, visit and run a business.
It is underpinned by multi-billion euro investment spread across major government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Town Regeneration Officers in all relevant Local Authority areas are being funded by DRCD to drive forward Town Centre First on a local level.
The policy also contains a range of actions designed to achieve key objectives such as social and economic revival in towns, the provision of housing, as well as addressing challenges like vacancy and dereliction.
Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors
Last year Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the Government’s new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027 was published.
It is a stakeholder-led strategy that will bring about cohesive and sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector and ensure a coordinated national approach to outdoor recreation.
The Strategy aims to increase the number of people active in the outdoors, especially young people and under-represented groups and also how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
Better planning and development of outdoor recreation infrastructure will be embedded through the strategy implementation and this will lead to enhanced protection of the environment and will be in keeping with best practice management of landscape and habitats.
Supporting our trails, our cycleways, our bogs, forests, beaches, lakes, coastal and mountain amenities, is a key action in the strategy and these will continue to be supported through funding programmes such as ORIS and CLÁR.