Number of community projects in Leitrim officially opened during Minister visit
On Thursday, April 24, 2025, Minister Dara Calleary, Minister for Rural Community Development visited a number of locations throughout County Leitrim, to perform official openings, a sod turning and visit a number of other projects funded by his Department in recent years.
As part of his visit to the County, Minister Calleary, performed the official opening of a number of projects, notably; the Mohill Public Realm works; The Market Yard in Carrick on Shannon; The Leitrim Village Diversity and Inclusion Project, including astro turf pitch, community gym, street furniture and bus shelter, Drumshanbo Mayflower Community Centre - Basketball and Volleyball Facilities and Drumshanbo Athletic Club Training facilities before concluding his visit by carrying out the official opening of the new state of the art Dromahair Library.
Welcoming Minister Calleary to the County Cathaoirleach Cllr Paddy O'Rourke, said the funding allocated to Leitrim by the Department of Rural and Community Development has been instrumental in improving the infrastructure and facilities in this county.
"It is our pleasure to have Minister Calleary in County Leitrim so that he can see, first hand, how the funding allocated to a rural county such as Leitrim can make such a significant difference to the people who live in our communities.
"I hope that the Minister and his Department will continue to support projects in County Leitrim, similar in nature to those we have seen today, for many more years to come,' said Cllr O'Rourke.
Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council, Mr Joseph Gilhooly welcomed Minister Calleary to the County by stating the funding awarded by the Department of Rural and Community Development has been of significant importance to this county.
"It has enabled Leitrim County Council to work in close collaboration with communities right across the county to develop and enhance the public realm in a number of our towns, enhance amenities and facilities that will add vibrancy to Leitrim and enable innovative, sustainable and responsive solutions for all our people and communities, making Leitrim the best place to live, work, do business, and visit,' said Mr Gilhooly.
While in Drumshanbo, Minister Calleary also performed the official sod turning for the Development of a recreational trail along a disused Narrow-Gauge Railway.
Over the past five years, through projects lead by Leitrim County Council, the county has received funding of over €40 million through funding streams run by the Department of Rural and Community Development such as Community Recognition Fund, Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Clár, Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme and Town & Village Renewal.
This funding has been of paramount importance in developing and enhancing the public realm and providing amenities and community facilities across Leitrim.
On what was a busy day in Leitrim for Minister Calleary, while in the county he also viewed projects funded by his Department that are currently in under way such as Mohill Station House, Carrick On Shannon Business Campus, Carrick on Shannon Tennis Club, Shannonside Regional Sports Campus, The Exchange Regeneration Project in Drumshanbo, The Food Innovation Hub in Drumshanbo, Car Park and viewing area in Drumkeeran.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Spending pretty penny to upgrade Oriel Park toilets
Local public representatives have welcomed the funding which was announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD as part of €17 million national package to support 212 community projects that assist areas which have welcomed new arrivals in recent years. Louth County Council has received €101,000 for the development of the Muirhevnamor District Park and €100,069 for the installation of accessible, natural play equipment in Ardee Community Park. Dundalk Football Club have received €69,261 for the upgrade of toilets at Oriel Park while St. Mary's GAA, Ardee have been allocated €86,955 for a drainage system. Naomh Fionnbarra and St. Anne's GFG, Drumcar have received €97,255 to upgrade their walking track. The Louth Volunteer Centre has bee given €69,995 to purchase a community bus. The Old Drogheda Society CLG have been allocated €50,600 for enhancement works to Millmount Governor's House and the Dunleer Community Development Board have received €107,207 to upgrade the heating system in Dunleer Market House. Dundalk Tidy Towns will be carrying out enhancement works at the Demesne thanks to a €57,885 allocation. The funding was welcomed by Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly who said it 'highlights the government's commitment to support local communities to be more inclusive and resilient.' 'I am delighted to see this funding for nine projects in Louth as part of the Community Recognition Fund. This funding has enabled communities to be more inclusive by improving community facilities and community spaces. This funding will enable our communities to become more inclusive, resilient and sustainable places in which to live and raise a family, to visit and to socialise'. 'Across Louth there will be major investment supporting a diverse range of projects. Overall, across Ireland we'll see over €17 million to deliver 212 community projects. 'I want to congratulate the community groups who have been the driving force behind the successful applications and look forward to seeing the completed projects.' 'This funding will go right to the heart of our communities, delivering real benefits and enhancements to amenities across Louth and Meath,' said Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Johnstown in Meath 'left behind' as new Navan community centre secures funding
Meath County Council's planned community centre at Cluain Adain is set to receive €400,000 under the 2025 Community Recognition Fund. In total, four projects across Meath have been awarded €696,496, as part of a national package of €17m for 212 community initiatives across the country. The scheme supports communities that have welcomed new arrivals in recent years. Senator Linda Nelson Murray welcomed the funding for Cluain Adain, but noted the ongoing demand for more community infrastructure in Navan. 'Navan is really struggling for community buildings, we don't have enough places for the elderly to go and be together, we don't have enough places for the youth to go, so the fact there is going to be a new community building built near Clauin Adain, which is a brand new housing estate, is very welcome news,' she said. 'However, I think we need more community centres; one in the Johnstown area, and one in the centre of the town.' Her call was echoed by Independent Councillor Alan Lawes, who said Johnstown has been overlooked for too long. 'Any new community centre is always welcome but people in Johnstown feel left behind. The town has about 12,000 people living in it but there's still no community centre,' said Cllr Lawes. 'We have clubs like boxing or dancing clubs with no home. All these community groups have nowhere to call home….they need somewhere to call home. Every population should have one.' Meanwhile Minister for Education and Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, also welcomed the announcement. 'This investment will empower our communities to become more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, making them better places to live, raise families, and socialise,' she said on a post on social media. Ms McEntee added: 'Congratulations to the community groups in Meath listed who have been the driving force behind the successful applications. I look forward to seeing the completed projects and the benefits they will bring to our local communities.' The four Meath projects to receive funding under the scheme are: Meath County Council's new community building in Cluain Adain (€400,000) Flexibus, Navan, for a new wheelchair-accessible bus (€146,496) Ashbourne and District Community Council CLG (€80,000) Cushinstown Athletic Club, Duleek, for facility upgrades (€70,000).
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Highest ever' €2k payment for 138k Irish TODAY in ‘vital role' boost after 25-year €1,746 increase & full list revealed
SOME 138,000 Irish people will today receive a €2,000 cash boost straight into their accounts, it has been confirmed. The Carer's Support Grant has this year reached its "highest ever level" after Advertisement 2 Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary confirmed the payment landed into accounts today Credit: Getty Images 2 Some 16,000 people will receive a €4,000 payment Credit: Getty Images The grant is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. Minister for Social Protection And over 16,000 carers are providing care for two or more people - meaning they will receive a grant in respect of each person. Announcing the payment this morning, Minister Calleary said the extra cash is designed to recognise the "vital role" carers play in society. Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY He said: "The "This is one of a number of improvements introduced this year in recognition of the vital role of carers and the contribution they make to society. "The Grant will be paid automatically to those who are receiving the "It is also available to other full-time carers not receiving these payments and is paid in respect of each person being cared for." Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN There are New online application system opens for €360 or €180 Domiciliary Care Allowance applications The Carer's Support Grant is also available to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments. You can qualify for the payment if you are aged over 16, ordinarily resident in Ireland and caring for the person a full-time basis for at least six months - including the first Thursday in June. You must also be living with the person being cared for, or meet certain criteria. Advertisement FULL LIST OF GRANT NUMBERS BY COUNTY SOME 138,000 carers across Ireland received the Carer's Allowance Grant today. The county with the highest number of carer's who received the cash boost was Dublin, with 31,191 eligible carer's. Leitrim, which is the smallest county by population, had the least amount of carer's who received the payment. The number of people who received the grant by each county has been revealed: Carlow - 2,165 Cavan - 2,324 Clare - 3,128 Cork - 16,432 Donegal - 5,664 Dublin - 31,191 Galway - 6,969 Kerry - 4,666 Kildare - 5,850 Kilkenny - 2,523 Laois - 2,730 Leitrim - 1,095 Limerick - 7,220 Longford - 1,605 Louth - 4,337 Mayo - 4,084 Meath - 5,045 Monaghan - 1,669 Offaly - 3,051 Roscommon - 2,191 Sligo - 1,922 Tipperary - 5,807 Waterford - 3,683 Westmeath - 3,227 Wexford - 5,452 Wicklow - 4,038 In a situation like this, where the carer and person being cared for live separately, an investigation is conducted by a "You dedicate yourselves to providing care to support your loved ones and I want to take this opportunity to thank all carers in Ireland for the vital and valuable contribution you play in our society and in our local communities." The Respite Care Grant was introduced in 1999 at a rate of £200, which is worth €254. Advertisement In 2016, the name of the payment was changed to the Carer's Support Grant to better reflect how the grant is used and, in 2025, the payment was increased to €2,000. STILL TIME TO APPLY The Carer's Support Grant is not a means-tested payment and only one can be paid for each person getting care. If you are getting Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance, you do not need to apply for the money. Instead, you will automatically get it in June. Advertisement However, those not getting one of the above payments should fill in the Carer's Support Grant application form (CSG1) for each person they are caring for. Applications for the Carer's Support Grant are open from April until 31 December of the following year - meaning those eligible who haven't applied won't miss out on the cash payment. And those who were eligible for the payment last summer but didn't receive it can still apply. For example, you can apply for the Carer's Support Grant for 2024 at any time from April 2024 up until 31 December 2025. Advertisement And you can apply for the Carer's Support Grant in 2025 at any time from April 2025 up until 31 December 2026.
