Monaghan County Council welcome the investment of €8.4 million towards the RESTART project under Investment Area 4.2 – Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion – of the PEACEPLUS programme.
The project, aptly named RESTART, an acronym for Rural Economic & Social Transformation And Resilience Transition Together, will see significant strategic investment in the towns of Newtownbutler, Clones and Belturbet. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It has been designed collaboratively to enable these rural communities to thrive and reach their full economic, social and environmental potential.
Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council said: “The Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Programme aims to promote social, economic, and environmental initiatives that strengthen and revitalise rural communities. The RESTART Project represents a significant opportunity for County Monaghan and surrounding areas, driving greater social inclusion while supporting the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities across our rural landscape.”
The Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council Paul Gibbons stated “I am delighted to welcome this hugely significant investment into this area. Its shows the benefit of a partnership approach between the three councils North and South in addition to other stakeholders and is tangible evidence of the progress and real difference that can be made in the region.”
Cllr Richard Truell Cathaoirleach of Ballybay Clones Municipal District stated “This investment is a welcome boost for all those projects run under measure 4.2 of the PEACEPLUS Programme Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion.
PEACEPLUS has supported young people, health initiatives, environmental programmes, job creation in the past and cross border initiatives.
The EU Commission programme has run for the last 25 years and has helped to copper fasten the peace process through funding for cross-community and cross-border co-operation.
I’m delighted that in Clones this funding will go towards further development of the Canal Stores site with the Canal Workers Cottage, extending the meals on wheels service and additional meeting rooms and community space at the Marina site.
I want to thank all the partners and stakeholders who have helped in making this application successful and I look forward to the projects getting started.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “Significant developments have been made in the provision of collaborative cross-border services in recent years, providing equality of access for citizens in rural areas. The EU INTERREG programme enabled much of this work and PEACEPLUS funding now builds – and further expands – these collaborative initiatives into areas of increasing wellbeing and reducing social isolation in rural areas.
“All of the funded projects in the Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Investment Area will support collaborative community development initiatives and services.”
RESTART is a collaborative approach to the regeneration of this area and project partners include, Erne East Community Partnership Ltd (OAK Healthy Living Centre), Clones Family Resource Centre and Clones Erne East Community Sports Facility (Peacelink).
The project includes infrastructure investment across key sites in the three towns of Newtownbutler, Clones and Belturbet.
The proposal for the development of the former PSNI Station site in Newtownbutler includes light industrial workspace units, community gym and a multipurpose space for wellbeing activities.
In Clones, it is proposed that further works will be undertaken at the Canal Stores site to include the redevelopment of the former Canal workers cottage to extend the meals on wheels service, and provision of additional multipurpose meeting and community space that can also be used to provide services for the soon to be developed Marina adjacent to the site.
In Belturbet, a new community hub is planned within the town centre. The proposal will see the development of community resource hub facility with meeting rooms, a large multiuse and events space and rentable offices/workspace.
A complementary suite of programmes have also been developed to promote wellbeing across this border region and animate programmes to encourage shared learning and build relationships throughout this border region.
