One million euro has been granted for a landmark Rural Regeneration Project in Portlaw.
The money will be provided for the Portlaw Town Regeneration Phase 1 project via Waterford City & County Council.
The funding will be utilised to bring to a stage of detailed design and shovel readiness a number of interconnected projects which are focused on town regeneration.
This includes the acquisition and redevelopment of the old courthouse, a beloved structure of Portlaw with huge historical significance to the town and its people.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister Mary Butler stated: “I am over the moon to be announcing such significant funding of €1 million for my hometown of Portlaw. This money has the potential to be a gamechanger for a number of interconnected projects which will revitalise and regenerate some of the most historic areas of our great town.
“Portlaw is a model town, the only one in the Republic of Ireland. Much of our rich heritage stems from early the days of The Malcomsons, an influential family who established our town, around the large-scale cotton mill they founded here in 1825. Known by many in those days as “the Tannery town” there has always been a huge appetite among locals to revitalise the historical quarters of our town and bring these wonderful areas of origin back to life.
“I cannot speak highly enough of the work done by Conor O’ Neill, Acting Town Regeneration Officer, the team at WCCC, the local committee in Portlaw and all the other organisations who contributed. Their diligence and dedication to this town, in conjunction with the efforts of the local authority, have been instrumental in bringing these envisaged projects to reality.
“I also want to thank my colleague, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary T.D, for meeting with me on a number of occasions and for immediately recognising the significance of this project to Portlaw and seeing its potential to transform some of the most cherished areas of the town.
Minister Butler concluded: “I have lived in Portlaw all my life. I credit my upbringing there and the local community for equipping me with the work ethic, confidence, and determination to enter local politics and make my way over the years to the Cabinet Table, where meaningful delivery for your hometown and county can be achieved.
“What we are seeing today is the announcement of national funding of over €20.5 million for 30 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country.
Also welcoming the announcement, Minister John Cummins said: “I’d like to congratulate and thank all of the stakeholders who have worked so hard to get us to this point, including Waterford City and County Council and the Portlaw Community Enhancement Committee.
“The funding announced today will build on the work which has been completed under the Town Centre First initiative which is led by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development. We don’t have to look too far to see an example of the impact this fund can have. Cappoquin previously benefited from Category 1 and 2 funding under the RRDF which has been a great boost in developing a series of regeneration projects in the town and I look forward to seeing similar progress in Portlaw.”
Minister Cummins continued: “Regenerating our city, towns and villages is a big priority of mine, it is something I have been working extensively on since taking up my role within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The announcement of a derelict sites tax in Budget 2026 which will be collected by Revenue is a serious statement of my zero tolerance for dereliction and while significant progress has been made on vacancy and dereliction in Waterford, there is still room for improvement.
“This is a really positive news story for Portlaw and Waterford as we continue to invest record capital funding in rural communities under ‘Our Rural Future’.”
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