Minister Humphreys officially opens €3.4 million Boyle Town Regeneration Project

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, visited Boyle on Wednesday last to officially open the €3.4 million Boyle Town Regeneration Project.

The project has provided a community, cultural and business hub in the town’s previously vacant Royal Hotel and the development of a new river promenade which includes outdoor space for events and performances.

The project, funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, with match funding provided by Roscommon County Council has been delivered at an overall cost of €3.4 million.

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.

Roscommon County Council was awarded funding of over €2.5 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to deliver the project.

Speaking at the event, Minister Humphreys said: “I am delighted to be here today to officially open the Boyle Regeneration project. This fantastic facility will serve the town with community and cultural facilities as well as providing business opportunities to the local community.

“Boyle Regeneration, which is part of the larger Boyle 2040 masterplan, will be transformative for the town of Boyle and its surrounding communities. By repurposing a previously vacant building, this project has breathed new life into the town and will help attract further investment in the area.”

The Minister continued: “With investment of over €2.5 million from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, this project demonstrates the commitment of my Department in supporting projects which promote sustainable, inclusive communities and I must congratulate Roscommon County Council and their project partners on delivery of such a fantastic project.”

2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme

This week Minister Humphreys TD also launched the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme – a €15 million fund designed to revitalise and regenerate rural towns and villages.

The fund will support dozens of projects nationwide with a focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction and bringing additional footfall into the centre of towns.

Grants will be made available to support the development of outdoor projects such as plazas, parks, playgrounds and green spaces.

Under the initiative, funding will be provided to local authorities to acquire land for regeneration purposes.

Farmer and artisan markets will be supported under the scheme and there will also be funding ring-fenced for projects for offshore island communities.

She said that ’Our Rural Future’, the Government’s ambitious policy for rural development, is very much focussed on supporting the regeneration of our rural towns and villages.

“Additionally, the Town Centre First Policy is a cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.

 “This year’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been closely aligned with these two policies – and it will directly support our towns to be more attractive and economically and socially vibrant."

 Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, over €154 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects. 

The Scheme typically funds rural towns and villages with a population of up to 10,000 people.

The Minister concluded: “There are still some small towns and villages that have not yet benefited from the Scheme, so I would encourage all of these towns and villages, in particular, to consider applying for funding under the 2023 Scheme.