€10.3m in funding will transform the face of Tullamore town centre
Over €8m allocated for link between O’Connor Square and Church St
A WHOPPING €10,3 million in funding has been allocated for town centre developments in Tullamore including a long-awaited link between Church St and O'Connor Square.
Massive funding has also been earmarked for the enhancement of Harbour St, Patrick St and Church St.
Funding has also been allocated for the development of masterplans and viability appraisals for railway lands at Kilcruttin and the town's civic quarter.
Full details of the funding are as follows: Kilcruttin Railway Lands - Options Viability and Masterplan (€150,000), Tullamore Civic Quarter Options Viability Appraisal and Masterplan (€150,000), Harbour Street Urban Regeneration (€1.4 million) and O’Connor Square to Church Street/Market Square Link and Church Street/Patrick Street urban street enhancement (€8.6 million).
The funding has been hailed as "absolutely phenomenal" by the Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Municipal District, Cllr Shane Murray.
Cllr Murray, who is also Chairman of Tullamore Tidy Towns, said the funding was a natural follow-on from the enhancement of the streetscape at Colmcille St, Bridge St and High St in recent years.
Deputy John Clendennen said this funding for four projects in Tullamore will also help redevelop vacant or underused sites.
“This funding is a huge boost to Tullamore, which is somewhere we all want to be able to congregate in, whether it’s to go shopping, meet friends or family or just visit to absorb the daily activity.
“This announcement highlights Fine Gael’s strong commitment to supporting our communities both economically and socially.
“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.
“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 Offaly County Council 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 Offaly and will help to continue to make our county a great place to live, work and raise a family. It’s worth noting that under this scheme Tullamore was the only eligible town, but I am continuing to work on securing funding for other large-scale projects right across the county.” concluded Deputy Clendennen.
His constituency colleague, Fianna Fail’s Deputy Tony McCormack has also welcomed the funding.
Deputy McCormack said the scale of the investment represented a major opportunity for Tullamore.
“€10.3 million is a very significant investment in Tullamore and, importantly, it covers both projects that can make a difference in the shorter term and the planning needed for the future development of our town.
“The €8.6 million investment linking O’Connor Square with Church Street and Market Square, together with the enhancement of Church Street and Patrick Street, has the potential to make a real difference to this part of the town centre.
“Harbour Street is another important area for Tullamore, and the €1.4 million allocation for urban regeneration there is very welcome.
“I am also particularly pleased to see investment in planning for the future of the Kilcruttin Railway Lands and the Tullamore Civic Quarter. These are important strategic areas and we need to be ambitious about how they can contribute to Tullamore over the coming years.
“Tullamore has developed enormously, but we cannot stand still. We need to continue investing in our town centre, supporting local businesses, bringing greater activity into our streets and ensuring Tullamore remains an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest.”
Deputy McCormack acknowledged Minister James Browne and Offaly County Council for their work in progressing the projects.
“This is a strong announcement for Tullamore. The next step is delivery. I will continue working with Minister Browne, Offaly County Council and all involved to ensure we turn this €10.3 million commitment into improvements people can see and experience on the ground,” Deputy McCormack concluded.