Source: Government of Ireland
- €1.4 million for the regeneration of Portarlington Market House and Square
- €500,000 for the revitalisation of the People’s Park in Portarlington
- Public realm enhancement and a social enterprise officially opened in Mountrath
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Thursday, 23 April 2026) visited County Laois to open a number of community facilities funded through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The Minister’s visit began in Portarlington, where he officially opened the Heritage-Led restoration of Market House and Square, funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). The historic Market House has been restored and will operate as a Community and Tourist Information Hub.
Speaking in Portarlington, the Minister said:
To date over €11.9 million under the RRDF has been allocated to deliver nine projects located across Co. Laois.
Following this, the Minister officially opened the redevelopment project in the People’s Park in Portarlington which received €500,000 under his Department’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Speaking at the People’s Park, the Minister said:
The Minister also opened The Compass Community Hub in Portarlington which received support of €39,000 through the Community Centre Investment Fund for repairs and upgrades to the former derelict schoolhouse.
The Minister then travelled to Mountrath, where he opened Café Donate, a social enterprise funded through the LEADER programme. Funding of over €105,000 was provided to renovate the property – once derelict – and transform it into a vibrant community space.
Following this event, the Minister officially opened the Mountrath River Walk project which received almost €250,000 of support through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The Town and Village Scheme has made an important contribution to supporting vibrant and sustainable communities in towns and villages throughout Ireland.
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
Since 2018, the Fund has approved over €612 million for 272 projects across Ireland. To date, RRDF funding of over €11.9 million has been allocated to 9 projects located across Co. Laois.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme
Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, over €210 million has been allocated to over 1,900 projects. The Scheme has made an important contribution to supporting vibrant and sustainable communities in towns and villages throughout Ireland.
The 2025 Scheme places particular emphasis on projects that have a renewed focus on town centre economic and social recovery and regeneration.
The Scheme is administered through the local authorities, who are required to work closely with local communities and local businesses to develop and implement proposals. The Scheme typically funds rural towns and villages with a population of up to 10,000 people. Larger rural towns with a population of up to 15,000 people may be eligible where the application is particularly strong and the project will have a significant impact on the town in question.