Funding boost to help give Ennis properties ‘Insta-quality’

A NEW funding stream has opened up to give Ennis town centre properties a facelift and maybe encourage a few ‘Insta’ moments.
Councillors have committed money from their general municipal allocations (GMA) to fund painting, gutter cleaning and repairs to properties adjoining the public realm works on Parnell Street.
A fresh look and facelift will hopefully result in some pretty Instagram pictures, according to Councillor Mary Howard, as Ennis looks to attract more visitors over the coming weeks and months.
Properties adjoining the Parnell Street works are to benefit from the additional funds from local councillors’ GMA in a move described as “fantastic” by the Mayor of Ennis.
Ennis Municipal District councillors agreed to allocate a further €8,000 from their GMA towards the painting, gutter cleaning and repair scheme of the properties.
This additional allocation, in conjunction with the €10,000 available for the Ennis Municipal District area under the Community Support Scheme (Town/Village Paint works), will be ring-fenced for this initiative in support of the councillors’ commitment to the Ennis Public Realm works and the enhancement of the streetscape.
The scheme, which is open to any property and not just businesses, will provide
€300 towards the painting of the property and €100 for gutter cleaning.
Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Ann Norton welcomed the decision of all councillors saying that “Parnell Street has been transformed and it is only fitting that property owners be given the opportunity to clean and restore the outward appearance of these buildings”.
Speaking at the Council meeting she said that the works on Parnell Street, “look amazing and I’m looking forward to seeing the end product.”
She also praised the council executive for their ongoing work on the Parnell Street project and improvements of the town’s lane-ways and bow-ways during Covid.
She urged property owners to take the opportunity of availing of the funding and to “take pride in our town, this will be fantastic”.
Councillor Mary Howard also praised the works on Parnell Street, and voiced her support for the grand funding.
She said that this would allow property owners to “brighten and tidy up” the area with hopes it would become “one of those Instagram locations identified in the town and county”.
She welcomed recalled a proposal in 2019 calling on the council to introduce a gutter cleaning scheme saying, “in a shower of rain people are getting soaked, I’m delighted to see that this has been taken on board it’s an issue that comes up year in, year out in our Tidy Towns report.”
Carmel Kirby, Director of Service commended “property owners for their patience during the upgrade works and I am looking forward to seeing Parnell Street buildings getting the makeover they require”.
Speaking at the meeting she said this represents a “hugely important investment” by the council this year and she called on property owners to take advantage of the scheme.
She stressed the importance of the gutter scheme, pointing out that if debris from gutters falls onto the new public realm it will cause damage to its appearance into the future.
The Ennis Municipal District has reminded all property owners of their obligations under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993; “the owner or occupier of any structure and the owner or occupier of any land on which a structure is situated shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the structure or the use of the structure is not a hazard or potential hazard to persons using a public road and that it does not obstruct or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road.”
Further details on the application form and guidelines for this initiative will be made available on the Council’s website.