TOURISM in Co Longford received a welcome boost with the official opening of the completed Royal Canal Greenway scheme earlier this week.

Minister for Rural Community and Development, Michael Ring TD, performed the honours, opening the final section of the greenway which stretches 6km between Ballymahon and Killashee. It was built by Longford County Council using a €525,000 grant from the Department’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

The completion of the final phase means that users will be able to reach the River Shannon via the Royal Canal Greenway.

Minister Ring said: “I’m delighted to be in here in the Midlands to open this stretch of the Royal Canal Greenway which will serve as a wonderful local amenity and help attract visitors to the area. Longford has been overlooked for too long but I firmly believe that it is set to take off as a destination for visitors.”

The Minister also went on to say that he hopes that there will be “a continuous greenway from Dublin to the River Shannon along the Royal Canal in the near future.”

Minister Ring pointed out how his Department also allocated €100,000 towards the restoration of the White Bridge over the River Inny which will enable visitors to Center Parcs to access the Greenway.

He also pledged that €1 billion in additional funding would be invested in rural communities through his Department over the next 10 years under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. He chaired a meeting in Killaloe, Co Clare, on Thursday with a special focus on sustaining jobs in rural Ireland.

COMMUNITY FUNDING

Separately, Minister Ring announced funding of €815,000 under the Community Services Programme (CSP) for 12 new social enterprises.

CSP supports local community based organisations and activities to deliver a diverse range of services in the community while providing employment opportunities for people from specific target groups including travellers, long-term unemployed, people with convictions and those recovering from drug addiction.

Minister Ring said: “I am delighted to be able to award funding to these organisations under the Community Services Programme. It is the first time we have had an open call for proposals under the programme in more than a decade.

“It’s a substantial contribution towards the cost of 36 full-time equivalent posts in the 12 successful organisations. It will help job-seekers return to employment and, importantly, will support the delivery of valuable services in communities.”

Meanwhile Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Seán Kyne TD, announced co-funding of €300,000 for Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) Officers in 10 local authorities

The funding of €30,000 per local authority is to support the designation of an Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) officer in each of the City and County Councils.

Broadly, the AEC initiative seeks to maximise the infrastructure, talent and enterprise assets along the western seaboard and to combine area economic hubs, clusters and catchments to attract investment, improve competitiveness and support job creation.