A €320 million package of funds to stimulate business, promote job creation and help the roll-out of rural broadband was launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Ballaghaderreen last Thursday.
He said that the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme, overseen by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, would provide an ambitious package of measures over the next six years.
A total of 16,000 small and medium enterprises in counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Galway will benefit from financial or other business supports, it was claimed.
The funding will also provide co-funding for the Government’s extension of high-speed rural broadband, which will benefit 144,000 households. More than 100,000 households will benefit from the retrofitting of energy efficient insulation and other energy-saving improvement.
The money will also help to create 3,600 jobs in directly-supported enterprises, the Taoiseach said.
Local Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan welcomed the package. “The €320 million available will make a significant contribution to this region,” he said.
