Preasráiteas: Tionscadail tacaithe le maoiniú is fiú breis is €1.5 milliún nochtaithe ag an Aire Calleary le linn a cuairte ar Cho. Laois
Media Release
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Minister Calleary unveils projects supported by over €2.2 million in funding during visit to Co. Laois
- €1.4 million for the regeneration of Portarlington Market House and Square
- €500,000 for the revitalisation of the People’s Park in Portarlington
- Public realm enhancement and a social enterprise officially opened in Mountrath
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Thursday, 23 April 2026) visited County Laois to open a number of community facilities funded through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The Minister’s visit began in Portarlington, where he officially opened the Heritage-Led restoration of Market House and Square, funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). The historic Market House has been restored and will operate as a Community and Tourist Information Hub.
Speaking in Portarlington, the Minister said:
“I am delighted to be here in Portarlington in County Laois to officially open this landmark project. Funding of nearly €1.4 million was provided under my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
“As one of the principal projects within the Portarlington Regeneration Strategy 2030, this will transform the centre of Portarlington and play a key role in the day-to-day life of this community. It will help increase footfall in the town and stimulate further investment in buildings and streetscapes across the town.”
To date over €11.9 million under the RRDF has been allocated to deliver nine projects located across Co. Laois.
Following this, the Minister officially opened the redevelopment project in the People’s Park in Portarlington which received €500,000 under his Department’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Speaking at the People’s Park, the Minister said:
“The works completed here have transformed the Park into a vibrant and welcoming destination for all ages. It has created a modern high quality town park that maximises the environmental and social benefits for the local community.
“This project will ensure that the People’s Park continues to provide an attractive green public space for individuals, families and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.”
The Minister also opened The Compass Community Hub in Portarlington which received support of €39,000 through the Community Centre Investment Fund for repairs and upgrades to the former derelict schoolhouse.
The Minister then travelled to Mountrath, where he opened Café Donate, a social enterprise funded through the LEADER programme. Funding of over €105,000 was provided to renovate the property – once derelict – and transform it into a vibrant community space.
Following this event, the Minister officially opened the Mountrath River Walk project which received almost €250,000 of support through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The Town and Village Scheme has made an important contribution to supporting vibrant and sustainable communities in towns and villages throughout Ireland.
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, 23 Aibreán 2026
Tionscadail tacaithe le maoiniú is fiú breis is €2.2 milliún nochtaithe ag an Aire Calleary le linn a cuairte ar Cho. Laois
- €1.4 milliún d’athnuachan Theach agus Chearnóg Mhargaidh Chúl an tSúdaire
- €500,000 d’athnuachan Pháirc an Phobail i gCúl an tSúdaire
- Feabhsú réimse phoiblí agus fiontar sóisialta i Maighean Rátha
Thug an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, cuairt inniu (Déardaoin, 23 Aibreán 2026) ar Chontae Laoise chun roinnt áiseanna pobail a fuair maoiniú ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta a oscailt.
Cuireadh tús le cuairt an Aire i gCúl an tSúdaire, áit inar oscail sé Teach agus Cearnóg an Mhargaidh, ar a ndearnadh athnuachan oidhreacht-bhunaithe, agus a fuair maoiniú faoin Chiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe (CAFT). Rinneadh athchóiriú ar Theach stairiúil an Mhargaidh agus feidhmeoidh sé mar Mhol Pobail agus Faisnéise Turasóireachta.
Agus é ag labhairt i gCúl an tSúdaire, dúirt an tAire:
“Is cúis áthais dom a bheith anseo i gCúl an tSúdaire i gCo. Laoise chun an tionscadal seo a oscailt go hoifigiúil. Cuireadh maoiniú de bheagnach €1.4 milliún ar fáil faoin Chiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe de chuid mo Roinne.
“Mar cheann de na príomhthionscadail sa Straitéis um Athnuachan Chúl an tSúdaire 2030, beidh sé seo ina athrú ó bhonn do lár Chúl an tSúdaire agus beidh ról lárnach aige i saol laethúil an phobail seo. Cuirfidh sé borradh faoin líon custaiméirí sa bhaile agus beidh sé ina spreagadh do thuilleadh infheistíochta sna foirgnimh agus sna sráid-dreacha ar fud an bhaile.”
Go dtí seo, tá maoiniú de bheagnach €11.9 milliún infheistithe faoin Chiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe chun naoi dtionscadal a thabhairt i gcrích ar fud Laoise.
I ndiaidh na hoscailte seo, d’oscail an tAire an tionscadal athfhorbartha i bPáirc an Phobail i gCúl an tSúdaire a fuair breis is €500,000 faoin Scéim um Athnuachan Bailte agus Sráidbhailte de chuid a Roinne.
Agus é ag labhairt ag Páirc an Phobail, dúirt an tAire:
“De bharr na n-oibreacha a rinneadh anseo, tá an Pháirc anois ina ceann scríbe bríomhar fáilteach do dhaoine de gach aois. Cruthaíodh páirc bhaile nua-aimseartha d’ardchaighdeán, lena n-uasmhéadaítear na buntáistí comhshaoil agus sóisialta don phobal áitiúil.
“Cinnteofar leis an tionscadal seo go leanfaidh Páirc an Phobail de bheith ina spás glas poiblí taitneamhach do dhaoine aonair, do theaghlaigh agus do chuairteoirí do na glúnta amach romhainn.”
Ina dhiaidh sin, d’oscail an tAire Mol Pobail The Compass i gCúl an tSúdaire, a fuair tacaíocht de €39,000 trí Chiste Infheistíochta na Lárionad Pobail i gcomhair deisiúcháin agus uasghráduithe ar an tseanteach scoile, a bhí dearóil roimhe seo.
Chuaigh an tAire go Maighean Rátha tar éis sin, áit inar oscail sé Café Donate, ar fiontar sóisialta é a maoiníodh trí chlár LEADER. Cuireadh breis is €105,000 ar fáil chun an foirgneamh a athchóiriú – i ndiaidh dó a bheith dearóil – agus spás pobail bríomhar a dhéanamh de.
I ndiaidh an imeachta seo, d’oscail an tAire tionscadal Shiúlán Abhann Mhaighean Rátha, a fuair beagnach €250,000 faoin Scéim um Athnuachan Bailte agus Sráidbhailte. Tá ionchur tábhachtach déanta ag Scéim na mBailte agus na Sráidbhailte chun tacú le pobail bheoga agus inbhuanaithe i mbailte agus i sráidbhailte ar fud na hÉireann.