County Hall is not happy that two Cork city suburbs are to receive rural funding

Cork County Council is “not happy” that two villages, which are now part of the city, will benefit from a rural funding project.

Blarney and Tower are to receive funding from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which is run under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

Cork City Council was the only city council to apply for the grant, which opened when Blarney and Tower were still part of the county.

In the funding stream allocations, which were announced on November 1, the two suburbs, which now make up part of the city, were successful in sourcing funding.

Of the €1.02m that was allocated to Cork County, €164,800 was given to the city suburb Blarney to improve the amenities in and around the Clogheenmilcon Fen Bog.

In Tower, the village was secured €100,000 for town public realm improvements.

In the county, 12 areas applied for funding under the scheme and only seven were approved with another five: Little Island, Beal na Blath, Summercove, Killeagh and Crosshaven, rejected.

Crosshaven Fianna Fáil Councillor Audrey Buckley said the community was very disappointed that they were not successful in acquiring the much-needed funds for the area.

Carrigaline Fianna Fáil Councillor Seamus McGrath said that it was a bizarre situation that the city had benefitted from a rural funding scheme.

Cork County Council Director of Service Niall Healy said that the council were not happy with the funding going to the city and also said that the Department of Local Government facilitated the City in submitting proposals for consideration.

A meeting is being held with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the County Council in the coming week to discuss the matter.

The seven Cork County projects that are to benefit for the funding are Ballydesmond (€150,000), Donerail (€145,000), Dromahane (€142,500), Durras (€60,000), East Cork (€40,000), Glengarriff (€100,000) and Ringaskiddy (€100,000).

In Ballydesmond, Donerail, Dromahan and Durras, the funds are to be spent on public realm works, while in East Cork the money will go to installing bike racks and lockers and in Glengarriff, the money will be used to install a new riverside walk and upgrade existing ones.

In Ringaskiddy they are using the funds to restore the Community Hall.