Limited window for applications under €320,000 Streetscape Enhancement Scheme

Individual grants of up to €8,000 per building are available under the recently announced Town and Village Streetscape Enhancement Scheme, but those eligible (residential/commercial/unoccupied) are reminded that the closing date for completed applications to Limerick County Council is Tuesday next. An element of the Government’s ‘Our Rural Future initiative’, the scheme was only announced at the start of last week. With €320,000 on offer in Limerick, the initiative is designed to make those towns selected – Abbeyfeale, Askeaton, Rathkeale and Newcastle West in the case of West Limerick, along with Bruff and Kilmallock – more attractive places to live, work and visit.
Under the scheme, property owners will be provided with graded funding, up to the maximum 100% if work is undertaken by direct labour by the applicant, to improve the facades of their buildings, along with other possible enhance-ments such as canopies, lighting, street furniture, shrubbery or a possible €1,500 community mural.
In the region of 120 towns and villages across the country will benefit from the €7 million announce-ment by Minister for Rural and Community Develop-ment Heather Humphries. “The Streetscape Enhance-ment Initiative will directly support property owners to undertake work such as shop-front improvement, the painting of buildings in vibrant colours, upgrades to signage and lighting, the development of green areas and the installation of canopies and street furniture,” the Minister promised.
“We have all seen the huge success of towns like Adare, Kinsale and others who have put a major focus on improving their streetscapes by painting buildings in vibrant colours, upgrading and restoring their traditional shop-fronts and removing unnecessary clutter from their main streets.
“This new initiative is about Local Authorities, such as Limerick City and County Council, thinking strategically and working in collaboration with local businesses and property owners to add colour and vibrancy to our rural towns and villages.
“Outdoor dining is here to stay, and I believe that will only be a positive for towns and villages across the country. Through this fund, we want to make sure that people are looking out at vibrant, colourful and welcoming streets in our rural towns.”
She concluded: “I have no doubt the projects funded by this initiative will make a huge difference to our rural towns and villages and, most importantly, the families who live there.”
Said Mayor Daniel Butler: “The pandemic has taught us that there is an appetite for more services outside of the main urban areas and this initiative will support people as they reinvent their premises to cater for more people.”
Visit Limeirck.ie for further information.
Separately under its CLÁR Programme, the Depart-ment of Rural and Comm-unity Development confirmed on Monday just over €36,000 in funding for Feenagh Soccer Club to construct a footpath and associated lighting between its ground and the village.