Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area to benefit from share of almost €1.3million Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is delighted to be a partner in eight cross-border projects which have received almost €1.3million funding through the Shared Island Local Authority Development Fund.

The projects will see collaborative cross-border investment with border Councils including Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Sligo and Carlow.  The successful projects spread across a range of themes including tourism, heritage, economic development, business innovation and rural and urban regeneration.

The projects include an All Ireland Columban Way walking route feasibility study; capital works at the iconic Castle Saunderson, Cavan and Castle Caldwell, Fermanagh to create a shared heritage experience; a cross-border masterplan for the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Geopark; a feasibility study for innovation plazas in Ballyshannon and Irvinestown to foster enterprise in various sectors with cross-borders networks; a feasibility study for a regenerative tourism project along the rural Donegal-Fermanagh border; the development of sectoral SME innovation clusters and cross-border collaborative networks; a development study for sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation at Sliabh Beagh; and an economic visioning study to identify opportunities for business and job creation arising from the future Sligo Leitrim Northern Counties Railway.

Speaking about the funding, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Barry McElduff, said:

“I am delighted that the Council has the opportunity to partner with five Councils in the border corridor to deliver projects which will bring tangible social, economic and environmental benefits to the District.

The Shared Island Fund is very important and I was pleased to convey this directly to An Taoiseach Michaél Martin in Cavan Townhall recently.

The projects receiving support are innovative and cover a range of sectors and areas of the District, including rural areas which is to be welcomed.

The Council is committed to ensuring that the District is a great place to live, work, visit and invest in and this significant investment to deliver innovative projects helps to achieve this”.

Taoiseach Michaél Martin TD said:

“I am delighted to announce the 25 successful projects which had been awarded funding under the Shared Island Local Authority Funding Scheme.  I am not only struck by the diverse range of projects which have come through the process, I am particularly pleased to see such a significant geographic spread across the island.

Local Authorities in the border region have long-standing partnership with their Northern counterparts, which I hope will be further enhanced through schemes such as this”.

The Shared Island Fund, managed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, enables local authorities, North and South, to progress feasibility and development work on new joint investment projects which deliver local and regional development goals.  The projects will be completed over the next 12 months.