Council welcomes funding investment of €21.3m across three projects

Donegal County Council is delighted to welcome today’s announcement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys that €18.8m has been awarded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) supported by €2.5m match funding committed by Donegal County Council for regeneration projects in Carndonagh, Ballybofey-Stranorlar and Ailt an Chorráin (Burtonport).

The investment will deliver transformational regeneration projects in the heart of each of the towns. The projects include the creation of new public spaces and improved pedestrian environments, reuse of vacant buildings including heritage buildings and the development of new enterprise space for remote learning, social enterprise, tourism related enterprise and large scale economic investment.

The projects relate to the particular challenges and regeneration opportunities in each town supported including:

• €9.5million investment in the ‘Tús Nua Regeneration Project’ in Carndonagh in collaboration with Spraoi agus Spórt. The project will deliver a new multi use hub located in a regenerated heritage building (formerly McDonagh Stores) for a range of uses including: a co-working space & fabrication laboratory, office space, youth space, a community kitchen and public amenities. The project also includes a shared workspace and retail space for the designer maker industries together with enhanced public realm at the Diamond and improved pedestrian accessibility and linkages. The project will bring people of all generations back into the town centre for community services, education, recreation, housing, enterprise and jobs.

• €9.8million investment in the ‘SEED Project’ in Ballybofey-Stranorlar in collaboration with BASICC.  The project will deliver the restoration and redevelopment of the former Ritz cinema as a vibrant Enterprise Centre facilitating much needed jobs, the redevelopment of an existing public car park to create a new, high quality, multi-functional civic space with enhanced pedestrian linkages and accessibility, façade enhancements to the Ballybofey Shopping Arcade improving its visual presentation to the new civic space and the development of replacement and additional car parking.

• €2million investment in the Ailt an Chorráin (Burtonport) Harbour Redevelopment – Phase 2 Harbour Buildings. The project builds upon previous RRDF support for Phase 1 Ailt an Chorráin (Burtonport)/Oileán Árainn Mhór (Aranmore Island) ‘Harbour to Island’ Regeneration Project. It will deliver a new Ferry Terminal Building and Enterprise Building at the Harbour. The Ferry Terminal Building will include new Ferry ticket offices, tourist information/ community booths, public waiting area, public conveniences, Harbour Masters Office, meeting room facilities and harbour viewing gallery and will enable the second phase completion of this exciting project for the harbour and island communities.

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Rena Donaghey welcomed the announcement and said “This is a very important endorsement by government of the importance of investing in our rural towns to strengthen them as key service centres that can properly meet the needs of the wider rural population. This investment will re-energise Carndonagh, Ballybofey-Stranorlar and Ailt an Chorráin as very vibrant, attractive and exciting places for their existing communities and it will also provide lots of spin-off opportunities for new and existing businesses, jobs creation, and increased investment generally. I would like to commend all involved for the work in developing these exciting projects and to thank the Minister for the confidence placed in the potential of County Donegal. ”

Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, John McLaughlin said, “We have continued to work very hard with local communities to develop regeneration masterplans and projects that can make a real difference to the attractiveness and liveability of our towns throughout the County and I would like to acknowledge the community based collaborations that make this work possible. This is critical work in supporting the community and cultural development of our towns as vibrant and creative settlements that are great places to live in, to invest in and to visit. The projects supported today by Minister Humphrey’s announcement are flagship and transformational projects of Countywide and Regional importance and form a critical part of our response to Brexit, Covid and the climate crisis  The Council is committed to driving these types of investments in our town centres which will enable other investments and growth to follow.   The dedicated work of our Regeneration Team together with the collaboration of the local communities has led to the successful announcement today.”

Referring to the recent publication of ‘Our Rural Future’ Liam Ward, Director of Community Development & Planning Service said, “These projects are multi-faceted in nature prioritizing place-making, outdoor and civic space and pedestrian accessibility in tandem with targeting tailored job creation and investment relative to the special role and function of each of the towns supported. This approach harnesses the special economic potential of Carndonagh, Ballybofey-Stranorlar and Ailt an Chorrain and directly supports the Governments policy for rural Ireland to revitalize town centres as vibrant and lived-in rural places”.