Carlow County Council welcomes and are delighted to receive approval from the Department of Rural and Community Development of grant funding of € 4,135,178 in respect of its application submitted under the Community Centres Investment Fund 2023 for the construction of a multi-functional community hub at Tullow Road Carlow. The overall cost of the project is €4,594,643 which Carlow County Carlow will match fund. It is anticipated that the construction of this project will commence in the 4th quarter of 2024.
The building will be a shared multi-functional resource with universal access which will facilitate new and existing supports and services, catering for physical, social and community needs. The facility will incorporate various rooms including a community hall, kitchen, coffee dock, 2 multi-functional classrooms/meeting/training rooms, 2 consulting rooms, a maker space, lobby meeting space, toilets, reception, office accommodation, circulation space, plant room, ICT room, storage rooms and all necessary plant and equipment for accessibility and access including a lift. The project will include the provision of a new access point from the distributor road via a roundabout, internal access road, parking, drainage, fencing, landscaping, external play/outdoor space, and all necessary communication infrastructure. The building is designed to be nZEB i.e. carbon neutral and it will be enhanced by the provision of active travel and green infrastructure.
The project has been developed on the principles of interagency and community work. This collaboration, stakeholder engagement consultation was also the framework through which the design of the building was agreed.
Carlow County Council will be the lead agency who will manage the procurement, build and administration of all aspects of the project. Carlow Regional Youth Services will be the anchor tenant.
According to Cllr. Andrea Dalton, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, “I am delighted with this great news. It is the realisation of a project that we have been working on for years. I know how badly needed this community hub is and what a difference it will make.”
Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow, Cllr. Tom O’Neill warmly welcomed the announcement, “This news for Carlow with the new-build facility on the Tullow Road is a gamechanger and will benefit the communities for years for come.”
Chief Executive of Carlow County Council, Coilín O’Reilly stated, “Carlow County Council recognised the need for this project in the Tullow Road and has been working with the community and the key stakeholders for years to deliver on this ambition. I wish to thank the Elected Members for their support throughout the years and the staff of the Community Section for their work in the preparation and development of the successful application for submission.”
