Leitrim projects set to benefit from portion of €4.5 million to tackle dereliction and vacancy

Leitrim Village is set to benefit from a national allocation of €4.5 million to tackle dereliction and vacancy in rural Ireland, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced today.  

The investment is under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and will see 24 old and derelict buildings repurposed for 21st-century community use.  

The projects revamped under the initiative include Former Garda Stations, Schools, Post Offices, Parish Halls, Restaurants, Public Houses and Vacant Sites.

As part of the project, purchasing a two-storey semi-detached house to create a Blueway Hub is planned in Leitrim Village. 

In Manorhamilton, the purchase of an office building will be used as a multi-purpose youth hub space.

In Kinlough Leitrim County Council will purchase a two-storey terraced house for use as a social and recreational youth centre.

The announcement represents the second year of investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme’s Building Acquisition Measure, which is designed to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use in our town and village centres.

Announcing the details today, Minister Humphreys said: “This initiative is all about giving our local communities the tools to address the challenges of vacancy and dereliction in their towns and villages.

“Through this funding, we are taking those run-down buildings and turning them into facilities that will benefit communities for generations to come.

“By doing so, we will help to drive footfall into our town centres, increase tourism and, above all, make our rural towns and villages even better places to live, work, invest, visit and raise a family.

“This scheme is underpinned by ‘Our Rural Future’ – our five-year rural development policy, which has changed rural Ireland for the better,” Minister Humphreys has said. 

Among the 24 projects to be funded under the €4.5 million Building Acquisition Measure are a former bakery for conversion into a multi-purpose community facility in Belturbet, Co. Cavan, a former national school to be used as a multi-purpose community venue in Ballyroan, Co. Laois and a former garda barracks for use as a multi-purpose community hub, community gym and remote working hub in Bellacorrick, Co. Mayo.