‘That Roscommon County Council applies for THRIVE funding, Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme to bring Edenville House / Roscommon Military Barracks, Roscommon Town, a landmark heritage building (built c.1702) back into public use for the benefit of the community. THRIVE is 100% funded by the Government of Ireland and co-funded by the European Union.’

“That Roscommon County Council applies for THRIVE funding, Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme to bring Edenville House / Roscommon Military Barracks, Roscommon Town, a landmark heritage building (built c.1702) back into public use for the benefit of the community. THRIVE is 100% funded by the Government of Ireland and co-funded by the European Union. “

The Meetings Administrator read the following reply:

THRIVE (Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme) will support local authorities and their citizens to re-imagine town centres and to transform publicly owned vacant or derelict heritage buildings within those town centres through renovation, renewal, and adaptive reuse. THRIVE Strand 1 provides for the preparation of an Integrated Urban Strategy and Project Pipeline Development. THRIVE Strand 2 provides for the Renovation and Adaptive Reuse of Vacant or Derelict Heritage Buildings based on the outcomes from Strand 1.

Roscommon County Council will apply for Strand 1 Integrated Urban Strategies and Project Pipeline Development funding.

Speaking on her motion, Cllr. Leyden said with €200,000 being allocated to each local authority through the NWRA, it was now appropriate to seek funding under the THRIVE Scheme for Edenville House as it is clear that the Council will be applying funding under Strand 1 of the scheme.

She said the house was acquired by the Roscommon County Council in 1990 and it is her wish that it be restored and brought back in use. A Conservation Order for the House was sought in 2004 with conservation works undertaken between 2008 and 2010. A Feasibility Study was carried out on the house as a potential flagship heritage project for the town and county. The Roscommon Town Team is now supporting and working on this project and it can be developed for the community and the project is citizen led. As a result of this recent funding announcement and with the support of the local Town Team, circumstances are aligning to enable redevelopment work to be funded and carried out. She urged the Council to propose this building for Strand 1 funding under the scheme.

Members supported the motion on the basis that 100% funding is available for such projects. It was noted that the funding stream is available to key towns and regional growth areas such as Roscommon Town and Monksland and the proposal will have to go through a defined process and consider all options.  The late John Kerrigan, who had recently passed away, was remembered as a champion of the building being restored and used by the public.

Director of Services, Mr. Mark Keaveney acknowledged the importance and significance of the THRIVE Scheme. He said it was important an application is made under Strand 1 of the fund with the intention of seeking further funding under Strand 2. He cautioned that works could only take place with an integrated plan and that applications for funding were subject to a competitive process and there is no guarantee of securing sufficient funding and the use of the building will be a key factor in funding being sought and  approved.

Responding, Cllr. Leyden said she hoped a meeting would soon take place between the Chief Executive, the Town Regeneration Officer, the Director of Services for Economic Development  and the local Town Team. She said areas of interest regarding the use of the building had been identified to enable the resource cater for the whole of the community with a regional focus to attract visitors to the area.