The 11 vacant Galway sites being transformed under new €24 million plan
Funding through the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund will benefit Tuam, Galway City and Ballinasloe
Eleven vacant or underused sites in Galway are set to be transformed following the allocation of €24 million in government funding under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.
Two sites in the city were allocated the maximum amount of €7.5 million under the scheme: the Ceannt-Augustine Public Realm project, and An Tús Kingston Park on the west side of the city.
A further six projects across the county have been allocated a total of €8.24 million, including a €3.7 million investment in the public realm enhancement of St. Michael’s Square in Ballinasloe.
In Tuam, the development of The Shambles outdoor market and event space is set to benefit from funding of €3.6 million, along with €150,000 for the Station Quarter project.
The investment was announced by local Fine Gael TD, Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton, who said it would herald significant benefits for Galway.
“We all want to see regeneration in our own communities and to provide spaces that are safe and attractive for people from all generations to gather and enjoy,” she said.
“Across the country this funding will drive economic growth, increase town footfall, combat dereliction, develop community and civic infrastructure and I want to pay tribute to Galway City and County Councils for their submissions and also to our local community groups and social enterprises who worked with them to devise projects that will benefit everyone living and working here.
“When complete, these projects will leave a lasting difference in Galway and will help to continue to make our towns and cities great places to live, work and raise a family,” added Ms Naughton.
The funding is part of an overall €409 million package allocated to 120 projects under the newly established Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund (TCRIF).
Galway City Council will also receive €150,000 for each of three planning and design strategies: the City Centre Delivery Strategy, the Murrough Coastal Protection and Esplanade study, and the West of Galway City Movement Study.
The remaining county allocations will fund works within the Galway Metropolitan Area at Oranmore Train Station, including €800,000 for the planning and construction of an Eco Park within the Garraun Urban Framework Plan area, and €150,000 for the preliminary design of vehicular access points from the R446 into lands north of the railway line.
Administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under Project Ireland 2040, the TCRIF replaced the former Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which had invested over €1.9 billion in civic works across the state.