Council allocated €13m for regeneration projects

CARLOW town has been allocated almost €13 million for a number of projects under a new investment fund aimed at regenerating and revitalising town centres around the country.

The investment is part of the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund, which was first announced in March.

It is separate from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), through which Carlow town was allocated €20.8 million for a series of town centre regeneration projects, including the upgrade of Potato Market. The project has drawn criticism from councillors in recent months due to delays in the commencement of works.

In total, four projects in Carlow town have been awarded funding under the new scheme.

A project referred to as Link Streets, which focuses on the transformation of Dublin Street, College Street, Charlotte Street Yard, Brown Street and Castle Street through the delivery of a ‘high-quality public realm’ has been allocated €7.5 million.

The project aims to enhance the attractiveness, accessibility and vitality of the town centre.

The former Crotty’s site, which is bounded by Brown Street, College Street, Charlotte Street and Tullow Street and is being referred to as the Carlow Old Town Quarter, has been granted €5.1 million.

Elsewhere, €150,000 has been granted for a feasibility study to be carried out on Carlow Town Hall, which will assess the viability of turning the building into a tourist attraction, while a further €150,000 has been granted for the development of a Barrow Track master plan.

The three hectares of land, which adjoin the River Barrow directly opposite Carlow Town Park, are currently vacant, and the master plan will establish a comprehensive development framework for its future use.

Projects supported under the new fund fall into two categories. The first, category 1A, will support longer-term projects to be delivered in the later years of the National Development Plan 2026-2035. The second category, category 1B, will support projects that can be delivered in the short term.

The Barrow Track master plan and town hall feasibility study are classified as category 1A, while the Link Streets and Carlow Old Town Quarter projects are category 1B.

Chief executive of Carlow Co Council Coilín O’Reilly welcomed the announcement and said the investment would allow the council to build on the €20 million town centre funding secured through the URDF, while also enabling more compulsory purchase orders to tackle vacancy and dereliction.

“The additional funding will allow Carlow Co Council to expand the existing project into other parts of Tullow Street as well as Dublin Street, College Street, Charlotte Street, Browne Street and Castle Street,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“The funding will also allow Carlow Co Council to CPO and develop major derelict sites in the town centre. We look forward to continuing to improve Carlow town centre for the citizens of Carlow and creating a town centre that will become a hub of social and economic activity for the region,” he added.

Fianna Fáil TD and minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said the announcement was a “hugely exciting” prospect for the town.

“This funding promises to have a major and lasting impact on Carlow town centre and will build on the significant investment already secured through the URDF,” Ms Murnane O’Connor said.

Minister Murnane O’Connor commended the council for submitting the four projects and said it was important that Carlovians see the benefits of the investment on the ground as quickly as possible.

“This is a major injection of funding for our town and I know people want to see its impact as soon as possible. It is important to point out that URDF investment is delivered on a phased basis, with phase 1 and phase 2 projects due to begin early next year,” she said.

Fine Gael deputy Catherine Callaghan also praised the council for their submissions and said the funding will “drive economic growth, increase town footfall, combat dereliction and develop community and civic infrastructure.” 

“I want to pay tribute to Carlow Local Authority for their submissions and also to our local community groups and social enterprises who worked with them to devise projects that will benefit everyone living and working here,” she said.