Longford regeneration plans given €4m cash stimulus

ALSO READ: Edgeworthstown regeneration plans to be stepped up

Rural Affairs Minister Micheal Ring signed off on the figure under his department's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

Approximately €2.8m has been set aside towards the ongoing development of a Norman Heritage village at the recently opened Knights & Conquests Heritage & Visitor Centre in Granard.

Edgeworthstown has secured close to €1.2m as part of its own regeneration drive, providing for streetscape works and the continued development of the town's new €2.4m library.

Local Fine Gael Cllr and the party's Longford general election candidate Micheal Carrigy said the scale of the announcement illustrated the government's unremitting commitment to the county.

"It also shows the work that has been put in by Longford County Council and its members," he said.

"We put up the Local Property Tax to allow Longford County Council to match fund these projects and while these projects are for the whole county it demonstrates the confidence Fine Gael has in Longford.

Cllr Carrigy pointed to recent visits to the county by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy as evidence of the Government's focus towards Longford's revitalisation and long term sustainability.

"This is very significant and I am confident there will be further positive announcements being made in due course," he said.