Millions in funding for Co Wexford village and town centres

Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe announced the unprecedented investment for Riverchapel and Ballymitty community centres.

Riverchapel Community Complex secured planning permission for a brand new €2 million community centre last June. €1,797,919 has been provided in Government funding.

The plans involve the construction of a single storey Community Centre Building to consist of two childcare rooms with facilities including designated external play areas, a Youth Café, a Digital Hub and meeting room, two team changing room facilities, indoor sports, recreation and an events hall.

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Meanwhile Ballymitty Community Development have been awarded €1,398,035 for their new community centre.

Deputy Kehoe said: “This news for Ballymitty and Riverchapel is a gamechanger for these communities. Two state of the art community centres will be delivered, benefitting the communities for years for come.”

Deputy Kehoe’s announcement follows an investment of over €30 million by Minister Heather Humphreys, which will deliver 12 new community centres nationwide. It’s the first time in the history of the State that a dedicated fund has been set up to deliver new-build community centres in rural Ireland.

The Community Centres Investment Fund – was launched in March 2023 to provide investment for new and ambitious community projects in our towns and villages.

After providing funding of €45.8m to over 860 projects for refurbishments, Minister Humphreys decided to put a renewed focus on supporting communities that have no community centre at all.

Making the announcement, Minister Humphreys said: “I am delighted to announce details of the successful projects under the Community Centre Investment Fund 2023. Our community centres bring people of all ages together, whether it be for sporting, educational or social occasions.

“They are vital for engaging with those who may find themselves marginalised and they give everyone in the community a great sense of belonging. They build, stronger, more vibrant communities – places that for so many people act as a home from home.

“You could say that the community centre is the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and cities around the country.”

Minister Humphreys added: “When I launched this fund last year with a €20m allocation, I expected to approve five or six projects. Taking account of the quality of the applications and the identified needs, I am approving funding for 12 of the applications received with funding of over €30m.

This funding will assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs and the level of interest has shown that these centres, when complete, will be the heart of many a community, she added.

The successful projects are all on brown or green field sites and have all the necessary planning and consents secured so they are already at an advanced stage and ready to commence following a tender process.

This fund targets areas without an appropriate facility to meet their community’s needs. The centres range in size from single storey to two-storey buildings and will be located in rural and urban settings across nine counties.

Rosslare municipal district candidate, Willie Fitzharris welcomed the funding for Ballymitty, saying ‘political parties do deliver’.

Senator Malcolm Byrne has described the decision of Government to award €1,797,919 toward the development of the planned Community Centre at Riverchapel as ‘transformational’ and welcomed the investment in Co Wexford’s fifth largest urban settlement.

“This is a fantastic development and will provide a much needed facility for an area that has grown rapidly over the last quarter century,” he said. “I was happy to have played a small role in this but the real credit must go to Craig Lang and the team of volunteers who worked hard to bring this vision to this stage. I would also praise the work of Wexford Local Development and Wexford County Council in providing support.

“As Courtown/Riverchapel grew, we didn’t see community infrastructure keep pace with that growth. It was deeply frustrating especially when there was a young community crying out for it to be built. The development of the complex now along with this planned amazing building will provide real opportunities in the area.”

Sen Byrne thanked Minister Heather Humphreys who made the announcement on Saturday. “She gets why building communities is important and her personal interest in projects like this makes a difference. The scale of this investment by government will allow for real change.”

Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said: “Great news this morning for Riverchapel Community Complex who are set to receive €1,797,919 in funding to develop a new community centre!

“Huge thanks to the many down the years who have campaigned to have a community centre in this long-neglected community, in what has become Wexford’s fifth town. However, an urban area without the services of a town.

“Huge thanks to all who made this happen, including Craig Lang, members of the Riverchapel Community Complex Committee, Architect Mick Molloy, Wexford Local Development, and members of the Economic Development, Community, Planning and Municipal sections of Wexford County Council."