€1.5m allocated to community based projects in Louth

€455,827 has been allocated for the refurbishment of the playground and the bandstand in St Helena Park, from the allocation of €1,515,727 to Louth from the Community Recognition Fund, initially announced in January of this year. by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The Community Recognition Fund, which was launched 24th January, aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries. 

The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants. 

The €1,515,727 was allocated to Louth in January and is to be drawn down over 2023 and 2024, with projects being delivered by the local authority in conjunction with community organisations. The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community.

Following, what the  Department of Rural and Community Development says was an extensive consultation process with local authorities who submitted their individual list of projects for approval, the €1,515,727 for Louth is to be allocated as follows:

• Dundalk St. Helena’s Park Playground Refurbishment €380,827
• Dunleer Former Bank of Ireland Building in Dunleer refurbishment and fit out €109,800
• Dundalk St Helena’s Park Bandstand Refurbishment €75,000
• Dundalk Sports Centre Outdoor Courts Refurbishment €265,000
• Ardee Peoples Park Upgrading €80,000
• Blackrock Blackrock Park upgrade €45,000
• Carlingford Provision of Street furniture – Enhancement of Public Spaces €95,000
• Drogheda St. Dominic’s Park & Playground Upgrade €90,100
• Drogheda MUGA Pitch Refurbishment Moneymore €90,000
• Drogheda Outdoor Gym - The Glen €30,000
• Termonfeckin Foothpath Extension to Seapoint Beach €255,000

News of the funding allocation has been welcomed by Louth TD, Fergus O'Dowd. The Fine Gael TD said, “my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys confirmed the news to me this morning and I’m delighted to see so many local projects supported through this new initiative. 

“The funding has spread across the county with and I’m particularly pleased to see that €255k has been awarded to Termonfeckin to further extend the footpath from the village to Seapoint Beach. 

“Moneymore Multi Use Game Area secured €90k for a refurbishment and St Dominic's Park a further €90k for the upgrade of the playground. The new library in Dunleer secured €109k for fit and refurbishment and St. Helena’s Park Playground in Dundalk secured €380k for a refurbishment."

He added, "This funding will make a real difference on the ground and I look forward to seeing the projects progress."