Funding to the tune of €80,000 has been secured for preparatory work on the long-awaited and badly needed Community Hub in Moneymore.
The Drogheda Implementation Board, which was established in 2021 to implement the recommendations in the Geiran Report on Community Safety and Wellbeing in Drogheda, has given the news a warm welcome.
Action 4.1 of the Plan recommends the establishment of a Community Hub on the Northside of Drogheda, in the Moneymore Townland, to provide a wide array of community services to the area.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Wednesday 26th April, Drogheda Implementation Board welcomed the news that the Department of Rural and Community Development and Minister Heather Humphreys are providing funding of €80,000 to progress preparatory work for the establishment of a Community Hub facility on the Northside of Drogheda.
Michael Keogh, Chair of the Drogheda Implementation Board said:
“The Drogheda Report and Implementation Plan clearly identify the need for a Community Hub on the Northside of Drogheda to house existing community services in the area and to facilitate the delivery of a wider array of community services, provided by statutory as well as community and voluntary agencies to an area of Drogheda that is growing in population.
“This funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development shows the government’s ongoing commitment to Drogheda and to the delivery of the actions in the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan.
“It is also a result of the hard work put in by a number of community organisations in the area, known as the Moneymore Consortium. The project has received significant support from elected representatives, particularly Fergus O’Dowd, TD. We extend our congratulations to all and our thanks to Minister Heather Humphreys for her support.”
Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd, said he is “absolutely thrilled” for the Moneymore Consortium who have worked so hard to progress this vital project.
“Following a recent meeting with the consortium I immediately raised their urgent needs with Minister Humphreys.
“It is very heartening to see the Minister acting so quickly in not only offering support to the consortium but also securing the monies which will now be delivered to the Drogheda Implementation Board.
“I’ve spoken with Valerie in the consortium this morning to confirm the news and to also reiterate my support for the project which aims to provide a much needed one stop community hub in the heart of Moneymore.
“I again would like to thank all of the members of the Consortium and the Drogheda Implementation Board for their trojan efforts in advancing the plans.
“The next step is for the consortium to progress their planning application and if successful the work will then start to secure large scale funding to build the hub, which will benefit not just the Moneymore area but the entire town of Drogheda.”
