The residents of Arranmore Island are hopeful that plans for a tourism hub on island will be supported and funded by Donegal County Council and Failte Ireland.
Plans for a car park, playground, outdoor gym and performance area on the foreshore of the island has been in discussion for the past few years as well as a project to repair the access road leading to Arranmore lighthouse
Already, residents of the island have spent €30,000 of their own money alongside subsidies by Údarás na Gaeltachta, BIM Flags and LEADER to fund the project however this is not enough.
Full planning permission has been obtained for the site after one year of waiting, with the project now awaiting funds to begin breaking ground.
Nóirín Uí Mhaoldomhnaigh, Manager of Comharchumann Oileán Árainn Mhór, made a presentation outlining the current status of the project to the Minister of State Seán Kyne and representatives of his Department. Joe Mc Hugh TD, Thomas Pringle TD, Pat the Cope Gallagher TD and other representatives of Údarás na Geltachta and Donegal County Council were also in attendance.
“The project is shovel ready, if funding was available, works could commence immediately,” said Mhaoldomhnaigh.
An application for funding for the project was recently made by the Comharchumann under the Clár programme, but it was unsuccessful.
Copies of the plans and all associated documentation have been submitted to Donegal Co Co and to Fáilte
Ireland for review. Arranmore Island await their response.
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