Joe O'Brien - Green Party
Minister Joe O’Brien welcomes €100,000 for Rush from his Department
30th August, 2022
- Rush town to receive €100,000 as part of the Streetscape Initiative
- Projects to include upgrades to building facades, artwork, murals, lighting, street furniture and canopies
- Investment to help make our local towns more colourful, vibrant and attractive places
- Local authorities to begin advertising immediately; Local businesses and retailers encouraged to apply
Minister Joe O’Brien at the Department of Rural and Community Development, has today welcomed the announcement of the 26 towns and villages that will benefit from a €2.6 million fund in his Department to support the enhancement of streetscapes and shopfronts. Rush, Co. Dublin is to benefit in the sum of €100,000.
Under the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative, 26 towns that have been selected for funding with each local authority are to receive €100,000 as part of the initiative. Retailers and property owners will be provided with grants that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies.
The overall purpose of the Scheme is to give our towns and villages a facelift and make them more attractive places to live, work or visit.
The Minister today urged businesses in Rush, property owners and retailers to apply to Fingal County Council to avail of funding.
Welcoming the announcement today, Minister O’Brien said:
“When this initiative was announced last year, there was a hugely positive reaction from businesses and retailers. I’m therefore delighted to welcome the 26 additional towns that will benefit from €2.6 million in funding from my Department, including Rush in my own constituency.
“We all take pride in our towns and villages and want them to be as attractive and welcoming as possible.
“That’s exactly what Streetscapes is all about. I want as many businesses and property owners to get involved over the next few weeks and to avail of this funding.
“You may wish to give the front of your shop a new lease of life and repaint it in bright, vibrant colours.
“Perhaps you want to cover your window-sills with flowers and plants or purchase street furniture, canopies for your customers to enjoy.
“Or maybe you have an even bolder idea. This time round, neighbouring businesses are being encouraged to submit a joint application to their local authority if they have a more ambitious proposal.
“For example, under the first tranche of funding, some businesses transformed their facades with attractive murals – that’s one way to make your town stand out.”
Minister O’Brien continued:
“We need continued investment in our towns and villages to boost local communities and the domestic economy.
“A legacy of Covid is the rapid evolution of flexible working arrangements, making it even more important that our towns remain attractive places to live and work in. This is essential to wellbeing and economic growth.”
The 26 towns due to receive the funding were selected by each local authority in consultation with local businesses and community groups.
Local authorities will manage the initiative locally and will be advertising for applications in the coming weeks.
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Note for Editors:
The towns where this measure will be delivered are as follows:
| County Council | Town |
| Carlow County Council | Bagenalstown |
| Cavan County Council | Ballyconnell |
| Clare County Council | Lisdoonvarna |
| Cork County Council | Bandon |
| Donegal County Council | Lifford |
| Fingal County Council | Rush |
| Galway County Council | Tuam |
| Kerry County Council | Tarbert |
| Kildare County Council | Athy |
| Kilkenny County Council | Callan |
| Laois County Council | Abbeyleix |
| Leitirm County Council | Carrick On Shannon |
| Limerick County Council | Foynes |
| Longford County Council | Granard |
| Louth County Council | Omeath |
| Mayo County Council | Ballyhaunis |
| Meath County Council | Trim |
| Monaghan County Council | Clones |
| Offaly County Council | Clara |
| Roscommon County Council | Ballinlough |
| Sligo County Council | Enniscrone |
| Tipperary County Council | Tipperary Town |
| Waterford County Council | Tallow |
| Westmeath County Council | Kilbeggan |
| Wexford County Council | Enniscorthy |
| Wicklow County Council | Newtownmountkennedy |