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Rural Development Fund Of €2.3m To Benefit Key Projects Across County Limerick

According to Limerick City and County Council, the fund also has the potential to leverage an additional €15 million for the projects.

The allocation of a new €2.3 million Rural Development Fund will benefit six key tourism projects across towns and villages in County Limerick.

An extension of the Greenway from UL to Montpelier via Castleconnell; Newcastle West Regional Athletics Hub; incorporation of Barnagh Tunnel into existing Great Southern Greenway; Lough Gur Bourchier’s Castle; Stone Mansion Interpretative Centre, Kilmallock and the Lough Gur Solstice Park are to be funded.

According to Limerick City and County Council, the fund also has the potential to leverage an additional €15 million for the projects.

Coupled with the LEADER funding of €9.3 million, Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) of €3.8 million, Hinterland funding of €3 million and other funding schemes (€5 million), a total of around €40 million is due to be invested into rural parts of County Limerick over the new few years.

The €2.3 million Rural Development Fund allows Limerick City and County Council to develop a more coordinated and strategic approach to supporting rural communities in key strategic projects, town and village renewal, dereliction and rural tourism in co-operation with Ballyhoura Development and West Limerick Resources.

It has been agreed by the councillors as part of the annual budget process over the past number of years, with just over half a million euro from the budget being allocated to Ballyhoura Development and West Limerick Resources as a contribution towards their work.

The fund also makes a contribution towards ongoing town renewal scheme in Patrickswell and a regeneration project in Askeaton.

Welcoming the allocations, as one of his final duties as Mayor, Cllr Stephen Keary said: “It is crucially important that Limerick develops in a balanced way. This Rural Development Fund will help important projects in towns and villages across Limerick access the investment needed to develop and provide the facilities that are expected by locals and visitors nowadays”.

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