Former Mayo convent to receive €9.3m. overhaul
Mayo TD Michael Ring has announced a further €8,279,000 in funding for a new co-located municipal district library and long term multi-use facilities for community groups at Altamount Street, Westport.
The proposed works include:
* Restoration, reuse and extension of the former St. Patrick’s National School (former Convent school adjacent to Mill Road) as a new co-located municipal district library and a multi-use community facility.
* Restoration of the Convent Annex buildings and Greenhouse to provide long term facilities for community groups.
Deputy Ring elaborated: “When I was Minister for Rural and Community Development, I allocated €1.1 million for a new library in Westport.
"This funding is ring-fenced and is available for the development of the new library.
"Today, I am announcing a further €8,279,000 in addition to the €1.1 million which I already allocated for the municipal district library and long term facilities for community groups.
"Mayo County Council will at a later stage be looking for further funding for new civic offices.
“I was extremely committed to ensuring that this phase of the project would progress.
"I am delighted with this announcement of funding.
"This funding and these new buildings will make a huge difference to that area of Altamount Street.
"When finalised, it will be home to some of the top facilities in the county.
“I am hoping that the Department of Education will finalise the new school for Holy Trinity National School in Westport at the Altamount Street site too.
“Before I left ministerial office, I received an assurance that Holy Trinity National School would be accommodated at this site at Altamount Street and that they would be the only school on this site.
"I am calling on the Minister for Education to progress this matter without delay so that Holy Trinity National School can commence building at this location.
"The former Minister for Education, Deputy Joe McHugh, informed me that he was committed to Holy Trinity National School being accommodated at this location on its own.
“When completed, this will be a fabulous development for the town of Westport.
"It will rejuvenate this area of the town and will result in excellent usage of Council lands.
"I also acknowledge the representations made to me by Councillor Peter Flynn in relation to this project.”
In a statement welcoming the investment, Mayo TD Alan Dillon said: “I am very pleased to learn that Westport have received substantial funding under the third RRDF call for Category 1 project proposals, one of the largest allocations across the country.
“This project funding will transform the former Sisters of Mercy Convent site and adjacent lands, creating an iconic and welcoming focal point which will include a new public library and community services bub.
“The project will provide a range of key community facilities and services in a central location, including remote learning, enhancing the quality of life of the town’s residents and improving the overall experience of visitors to the region.
“The government recently launched Our Rural Future, the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in decades.
"Today we are putting that policy firmly into action and delivering major investment aimed at town centre regeneration.
"This project is been led by Mayo County Council and want to acknowledge their dedication and hard work on submitting this successful application.
"I have been a constant advocate for programmes like this and I have worked with the council and communities across the county to get projects up and running that will enhance our communities.
“We need to see projects being led by the Mayo County Council that will attract significant Government funding and I hope to be able to continue working on projects like this ones.
"I will continue to work with the local authority to ensure we can attract significant government funding and other ministers including Heather Humphreys to get projects across the county prioritised.
“I wanted to see a greater level of emphasis from Mayo County Council been placed on schemes like this one and will continue to encourage the local authority to bring forward initiatives and plans to revitalise many similar towns and villages the length and breadth of Mayo.”