€3.5 million Disability and Participation Awareness Fund now open to Laois organisations
The National Disability and Participation Awareness Fund has been launched, with €3.5 million earmarked for organisations across the country.
This fund will support people with disabilities to participate in community life in Laois and across the country.
The total €3.5 million fund will help to promote disability awareness and training in local communities, increase participation among disabled people in social, cultural, arts and sport.
The Government funding will also support young people with disabilities transitioning through education.
A total of €1.1m will be made available for up to six strong performing projects that applied under the 2023 Disability Participation and Awareness Fund.
Additionally, an open call for funding will issue for the remaining €2.4m available.
Funding from €50,000 to €200,000 will be made available to successful applicants under the open call.
The fund will be administered by Rethink Ireland.
Rathdowney Town Centre First Plan published and will be Mountmellick next
Rathdowney’s Town Centre Plan has just been published and Mountmellick has been approved to develop its own Town Centre First Plan.
Rathdowney is one the first towns in Ireland to have a Town Centre First Plan published.
The local Town Team, made up of community representatives, can now begin to implement the Rathdowney strategy to regenerate and revitalise the town.
Mountmellick has this week been approved to develop its own Town Centre First Plan.
€30,000 of Government funding will be allocated to the local Town Team in Mountmellick to complete a comprehensive and strategic plan to address the challenges impacting the area.
Each local authority now has a Town Regeneration Officer in place to manage the implementation of these plans locally and to work with the Town Teams.
This officer will also assist each of these towns in their applications for funding to implement these plans.
Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming, Minister of State, welcomed the news, saying:
“This is very good news for both of these Laois towns.
“Each of these towns are different and the communities in each area know and understand the challenges they face.
“This will help also help to bring vacant and derelict properties, in both towns, back into use.
“This announcement today will give the Rathdowney and Mountmellick communities the power to revitalise and advance their town centres.
“I want to thank the local community in Rathdowney for their hard work in putting together this town plan and I want to wish those who will be involved in the development of the Town Centre First Plan for Mountmellick as well.
“Fianna Fáil in Government is committed to supporting rural Laois and the revitalising of rural towns across the country.”
‘Unprecedented funding allocated to women’s health under Fianna Fáil in Government,’ says Fleming
Sean Fleming TD, Minister of State, has said Fianna Fáil in Government is allocating unprecedented funding to women’s health.
“Since 2020 there has been a significant investment of over €140 million of additional funding allocated specifically towards women’s health initiatives,” Deputy Fleming said.
“Fianna Fáil’s vision for healthcare is a public health service which provides everyone with access to high quality, affordable care when they need it.
“Six Regional Fertility Hubs are now operational across the country to provide IVF services to families.
“We have introduced the Free Contraception Scheme for women aged between 17 and 31.
“Two Specialist Endometriosis Centres for complex care have been established, along with 5 regional hubs.
“Six Specialist Menopause Clinics have opened and, when running at full capacity, will each see and treat 500 patients per year.
“We will continue to build a modern healthcare system to ensure Irish women have full control of their reproductive health.
“Fianna Fáil in Government is also committed to investing in Laois healthcare.
“Significant investment has been allocated for healthcare in Laois, with record investment in Portlaoise Hospital, funding allocated for a major new extension to St Vincent’s Hospital, Mountmellick, and the recent opening of a new 11-bed Transitional Care Unit at Abbeyleix Hospital.
“I will continue to work with the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, to ensure that people in Laois get the care they need at the time they need it.”
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