Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots has visited several projects in counties Fermanagh and Tyrone to see first-hand how a Pound 7.5million programme is benefitting rural businesses and communities.

Thanks to his Department's Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme, Fermanagh and Omagh Local Action Group (FOLAG) has been investing the money into village renewal projects, rural businesses and basic services projects, including a meeting place for community usage.

During his visits, Minister Poots saw how specialist construction and civil engineering company, Alexander Plant Ltd., received almost Pound 52,000 towards project costs of Pound 104,000 to help buy equipment to maintain and service all of their plant and equipment on site. This work, which was previously carried out off site by external suppliers meant the business continued to excel and was able to employ additional staff. The Minister also saw at first-hand, improvements made across Trillick village, which received almost Pound 44,000 from the fund towards a total project cost of Pound 58,000. These included the construction of a 3-stone sculpture as an entrance feature to the village, the improvement of the footpath between the Leisure Centre and Woodview Crescent and revitalisation initiatives, which included new planters, a notice board, benches and bins and the installation of a tractor sculpture in Main Street. The Minister also paid a visit to Magheraveely, which received almost Pound 69,000 towards project costs of Pound 91,000, towards the redevelopment of the old Civic Amenity Site in order to make it suitable for community use to accommodate meetings, workshops and other community activity.

Minister Poots said: "It is fantastic to see how the entire community is benefiting from this Pound 7.5million funding. These investments will create employment and provide enhanced community facilities and services for both young and old in Fermanagh and Omagh."

The Minister added: "It is thanks to the determination and hard work of all those involved who have, despite the many recent challenges brought about by the Covid-19 crisis, delivered for their local communities in Omagh, Trillick and Magheraveely by completing these projects."