Minister Joe O’Brien says he welcomes the announcement by his Department that towns and villages will benefit from a new €7 million fund to support the enhancement of streetscapes and shopfronts.
There are five towns in his own constituency of Fingal which will benefit.
The Streetscape Enhancement Initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future and is designed to make our rural towns and villages more attractive places to live, work and visit.
Under the scheme, property owners will be provided with funding to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork and install features such as canopies and street furniture.
The 124 towns and villages announced were selected by each local authority, which will now begin the process of advertising locally for applications. The types of projects to be supported include:
- strategic collaboration between property owners to paint buildings or shopfronts in vibrant colours
- commissioning of murals in towns and villages
- upgrade or restoration of historic / traditional shopfronts
- provision of street planting, shrubbery, trees and flowers boxes
- illumination and lighting of architectural features
- installation of canopies and street furniture
- decluttering of streetscapes with removal of unnecessary signs / wires
Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Brien said: “I am delighted that five towns in Fingal are set to benefit – Rush, Lusk, Donabate, Skerries and Oldtown.
“I encourage business and property owners in these towns and in any of the 124 towns and villages selected to contact their local authority for information on how to apply.
“This unique initiative is about making our rural towns and villages more attractive.
“It could be painting buildings in vibrant colours, installing canopies or street furniture, or giving buildings a much-needed facelift to make our towns and villages more welcoming for locals and tourists alike.”
The full list of towns is included available on gov.ie.