News in Brief: Over €1.25 million awarded to Laois schools for and almost €90,000 for Laois festivals

Over €1.25 million awarded to Laois schools for ‘continued learning of digital technologies’

Over €1.25 million has been awarded to Laois schools to “support young people” in their “continued learning of digital technologies.”

Under the Information Communications Technology (ICT) and the Minor Works Grant Scheme, Primary Schools in the county have been awarded €1,017,632 while Post Primary Schools have been awarded €234,305.

Each primary school will receive a basic grant of €2,000 plus €25.33 per mainstream pupil and €30.40 per pupil with special needs.

Post primary schools will also receive a basic grant of €2,000 plus €30.40 per student.

The Minor Works Grant is available to all primary schools which the Government say “will allow them fund maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds and improvements to electrical services and new furniture etc.”

There is a basic grant for each school of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 for special needs pupils.

This system allows schools plan their works immediately as each school can now calculate the exact amount they will receive under this scheme.

Laois Fine Gael TD Willie Aird welcomed the funding, saying: “Schools are at the heart of our communities right across County Laois and this investment of will ensure that Laois schools, and their students, continue to be supported.

“Maintaining school buildings across County Laois is so important, both in promoting health and safety, but also in providing a welcoming learning environment for all students.

“Every school in Laois is different, with different needs, which is why it’s important that schools can decide how to best use their minor works funding to address their own needs on the ground.”

Laois Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming also welcomed the news, saying: “We all agree education is fundamental for the development of all our young people and investment in education is an investment in our young people for the future.”

Laois festivals receive almost €90,000 boost from Laois Partnership Company’s LEADER funding

Laois cultural celebrations are set to receive a boost as close to €90,000 in funding has been approved for festivals across the county as part of Laois Partnership Company’s LEADER Programme.

At the end of 2024, Laois Partnership Company sought expressions of interest from community groups towards festivals and events taking place from May 2025 onwards.

This grant assistance is available under the Rural Tourism measure of the Laois LEADER Programme to fund a range of festival costs, with eligible expenditure items including the hire/purchase of equipment and marketing costs.

New festivals and new elements to existing festivals were encouraged, and Laois Partnership Company was inundated with applications from groups keen to bolster their delivery of public events filled with colour and character.

Now, the Laois Partnership Company Local Action Group has approved a total funding of €88,967.65 toward the following ten community-based festivals:

• Timahoe Heritage Festival (Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1)
• Buds and Blossoms Laois Garden Festival, Spink (Sunday, June 8)
• The Old Fort Quarter Festival, Portlaoise (Friday, June 27, to Sunday, June 29)
• The Folly Festival, Cullohill (Friday and Saturday, July 4 and 5)
• Feile na Coille, Ballinakill (TBC)
• Twins Trees Art Heritage and Culture Festival, Heywood, Ballinakill (Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12)
• Ossory Agricultural Show (Sunday, July 27)
• Abbeyleix Celebrates (Saturday, August 16, to Sunday, August 24)
• Laois Pride, Portlaoise (Monday, September 1, to Saturday, September 6)
• Castletown Community Centre Fun Weekend (Friday, October 24, to Monday, October 27)

Brian Kelly, Rural Development Programmes Manager, said: “These community festivals deliver a range of economic, social and cultural benefits.

“In addition to stimulating economic activity and enhancing tourism, these festivals provide entertainment and celebrate our communities, showcase our villages and towns, and are a strong expression of identity and place.”

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