BMW Regional Assembly Announces €17m allocation to Gateways and Hub Towns in the BMW Region - Thursday 8 October 2009

The BMW Regional Assembly has announced the allocation of €17.1m under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to urban development and regeneration projects in the Gateways and Hub Towns in the BMW Region. These allocations will provide up to 60% of public investment costs in the selected urban projects, with the balance provided by the local authorities. The announcement follows a call for projects which was issued in July and these projects were assessed by a Steering Committee representing the Department of Finance, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the two Regional Assemblies. The funding is drawn from the 7.5% advance of ERDF funding to the 2007-2013 BMW Regional Operational Programme.

The Dundalk Gateway was allocated €1.9m towards the redevelopment of Market Square in the centre of the town which will re-instate Market Square as a multi-functional civic and social focus of the gateway.

Galway City has been awarded €2m towards the cost of a strategic bus and cycle corridor, subject to confirmation of co-financing by the Department of Transport.

In the Midlands, €1.45m has been allocated towards the Athlone Art Gallery and €1.2m each to both the Mullingar Cycle Network and the Canal Corridor in Tullamore.

In Sligo, €2.4m has been allocated towards the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Model Arts and Niland Gallery and provision of outdoor performance spaces.

Letterkenny has been awarded €0.7m towards the re-paving and refurbishment of Upper Main Street along with enhanced traffic management and pedestrian linkages

The Mayo Hub Towns of Castlebar and Ballina have each been awarded €1.4m. In Ballina, this will fund the refurbishment of Pearse Street along with the addition of a link road to Market Square and the refurbishment of a former bank on Pearse Street to house the Jackie Clarke Library and Archives. In Castlebar, the funding will go towards town centre regeneration and streetscape refurbishment along with the development of the river walk as an amenity corridor.
 
Monaghan Town has been awarded €0.75m towards the enhancement and refurbishment of the Dublin Street area of the town and the provision of enhanced recreation and amenity facilities.

Cavan Hub Town has been awarded €1.4m towards the construction of the Eastern Access Route in the town, including the provision of a cycleway and footpaths.  This will facilitate traffic management and will also open new areas for development.

Tuam Hub Town has been awarded €1.35m towards the refurbishment of the Shambles Square and its environs, the enhancement and energy proofing of public amenities and also supports Tuam’s Smart Town initiative, coinciding with a major water services investment that is about to commence in the town.

Mr. Gerry Finn, Director of the BMW Regional Assembly stated that the selected projects which are to be largely completed by the end of 2010, will greatly enhance the potential of the Gateways and Hub Towns, making them more attractive places in which to live, work and invest.

“These allocations, which are co-funded by the EU Structural Funds under the Regional Operational Programme, represent a continuation of the Assembly’s commitment to the development of the BMW Region’s Gateways and Hubs as designated under the National Spatial Strategy framework and prioritised in the BMW Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013. The diverse initiatives proposed by the Gateway and Hub local authorities will make a significant contribution to the economic, environmental, social and cultural development of these cities and towns in the BMW Region”.

Click here for details of the Gateways & Hubs Development Fund

Click here for the Gateway Development Index