Fingal County Council has welcomed a recent announcement by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, that €25.4m has been awarded under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) for projects associated with the rejuvenation of Balbriggan. The funding will help realise eight projects under the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan by 2027. The overall cost of the projects is anticipated to be €33.9m with Fingal County Council providing €8.5m to complete the planned public realm improvements.The eight projects are: Quay Street,Harbour, 2/4 Dublin Street,Bridge Street Railway Street,Millpond Park,Promenade & Coastal Improvements,Castle to Castle Cycleway.Professor Brian MacCraith, Chair of the Balbriggan Leadership Group, said: “On behalf of the Balbriggan Leadership Group, I welcome this announcement wholeheartedly. ” With funding now secured, Fingal County Council plans to deliver the eight projects in phases. The first phase, which is scheduled for completion by 2023, will involve the reimaging of the public realm at Quay Street, the upgrading of the Harbour area and the development of Artists’ Studios and a Digital Innovation/Maker Space at 2/4 Dublin Street. The development of Bremore Regional Park, the Fingal Coastal Way and Bridge Street is expected to be finished by 2026. These projects will involve improvements to the promenade and coastal areas as well as a cycleway between Bremore Castle and Ardgillan Castle which will form part of the Fingal Coastal Way. It also includes the redevelopment of buildings on Bridge Street which have recently been acquired by the Council.The final phase will be completed by 2027 and will see the rejuvenation of Railway Street and Millpond Park. This will be a key part of the rejuvenation plan focusing on the town’s urban core and opening up its green corridor, the River Bracken, through Millpond Park.Fingal County Council is now progressing to the procurement of design teams for the public realm improvement projects. They will prepare plans for the redevelopment of the buildings and public realm areas for public consultation before construction commences.

The youth service is now running an employability Programme every Wednesday and Thursday for young people who are not in education, training or employment.

The aim of the programme is to increase young people’s employability, enhance their acquisition of employability skills and aid their preparedness and progression to employment, education or training through engagement with youth work programmes delivered by the voluntary youth work sector.The programme give young people the opportunity to explore different careers, develop their own personal goals, develop a plan for finding suitable education training or employment. Young people will develop their CV and interview skills, prepare for their driver theory test while also gaining an understanding of road safety through the RSA Wrecked programme. Young people will also develop skills to assist them in the workforce such as improved communication and leadership skills, problem solving, team work. Young people will also learn about entrepreneurship and how to develop their own business. For more information or to express your interest in the programme please call Aine on 086-7710790 or email aine.mcguinness@foroige.ie

Fingal County Council Sports Office will be adding to the Fingal HomeFit live series by facilitating a free yoga programme. Erica from Yoga Sanctuary will be teaching a 4-week online yoga course aimed at beginners, but all are welcome. She will guide you through a 1-hour class each week aimed at introducing you to the benefits of yoga through breathwork, yoga postures and relaxation. If you are interested in starting something new for yourself or would like to join in to stretch out and feel good in your body, then join Erica from Wednesday, March 3rd at 6 pm.The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy said: “Another excellent online programme from Fingal County Council Sports Office. The Fingal HomeFit programme has been an important exercise option for many people during the current government restrictions. The inclusion of a 4-week Yoga programme is fantastic news and will give people an extra activity to participate in the evenings.” Margaret Geraghty, Director of Housing and Community Development for Fingal County Council said: “The Fingal Sports Office HomeFit live sessions have been a great success. Adding a new class to the already popular programme will give participants the chance to try a new physical activity from the comfort of their home.” For more information contact Noel McManus, Fingal County Council Community Sports Development Officer

Fingal County Council are please to announce that enabling works are due to start in coming days on the new all-weather sports pitch at Ward River Valley Regional Park in Swords. The new third generation synthetic all-weather pitch will be a full sized GAA & Soccer pitch, similar to the facility at Bremore Regional Park in Balbriggan. The new floodlight facility will be accompanied by car, coach and bicycle parking to service the needs of the pitch users and to improve access to the park.The first phase of works will see contractors carrying out limited removal of some screen tree planting (as indicated on the accompanying plan) to facilitate works and create space for the pitch. Following consultation with the public, care was taken with the layout of the pitch to ensure that the landmark mature tree on site could be retained. Approximately 330m2 of screen planting will be removed and the works will be completed by the end of February. To replace these trees, 1580m2 of new native woodland and 179m of hedgerow will be planted adjacent to the new facility. In addition, further planting associated with the proposed car park will take place as part of the overall project. The pitch construction works are scheduled to start later this year and will become a valuable sporting amenity for the people of Swords and wider area.