Minister visits new community facilities

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, TD, has today joined Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Councillor Clifford Kelly in visiting new community facilities in Kingscourt and Virginia funded through her Department with investment in excess of €4.5 million.

In the day's first engagement, Minister Humphreys and Cathaoirleach Cllr Kelly commemorated the ‘Topping Out’ of new Virginia Civic, Cultural, and Library Services Centre, which has been developed thanks to funding of almost €4 million through the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Rural Regeneration Development Fund, plus an additional €1.3 million in funding from Cavan County Council. The facility, which will include a new library building, an expanded Ramor Theatre, and multi-purpose civic and office space, is scheduled to open in late 2022.

The Minister then visited Kingscourt for the official opening of Kingscourt Skills Training Centre, which received support totalling €99,600 from the Department of Rural and Community Development supplemented by match funding of €24,900 provided by Cavan County Council.

The Minister then joined Cathaoirleach Cllr Kelly in turning the sod at a new natural play area at Dun an Rí Forest Park. €450,000 in funding for the scheme was provided through the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme, with a further €50,000 in match funding provided from Cavan County Council’s own resources.

Speaking following her visit, Minister Humphreys said: "I was delighted to visit Cavan with the Cathaoirleach to see some of the fantastic projects being delivered under ‘Our Rural Future’. The Kingscourt Skills Training Centre received €99,600 from my Department through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Community Enhancement Programmes. This is a wonderful facility that will greatly benefit the local community here in Kingscourt.

“Furthermore, through the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme, we have invested €450,000 in Dún an Rí Forest Park . This investment will deliver a spectacular natural play area and a new 1km trail in what is one of the county’s most outstanding natural assets.”

“I also had the privilege of attending a ‘topping out’ ceremony at the new Virginia Civic, Cultural, and Library Services Centre, which received almost €4 million in funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.”

This facility will be a game changer for Virginia is scheduled to open in November. It will provide a transformative civic resource for the people of Virginia and its hinterland. Delivering real results in local communities is what the Government’s ‘Our Rural Future’ plan is all about, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside Cavan County Council and local communities to support more worthy projects in the future.”

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Clifford Kelly said, “It is my great honour as Cathaoirleach to welcome Minister Humphreys here today to Kingscourt to open this fine facility and to turn the sod on another excellent project. The people of Kingscourt, and indeed people all over Cavan, have benefitted enormously from projects supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and through the Government’s ambitious ‘Our Rural Future’ plan, I know the Minister and her Department are committed to continuing to support communities in Cavan”.

Chief Executive of Cavan County Council Mr Tommy Ryan said “Today has been an excellent opportunity for the Minister to see the quality of projects that have been funded in the county through schemes like Town and Village Renewal and the Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme”.

“I want to thank the Minister and her Department officials for their support of these projects, and also acknowledge our community partners and Coillte, with whom we are currently developing an ambitious Masterplan for Dun an Rí Forest Park, funded through LEADER. I would also like to acknowledge our elected members, whose support for these projects in the form of match funding is key to our work in developing these amenities,” added Mr Ryan.