Parking spaces given to outdoor dining

A number of car parking spaces in the centre of Mullingar are being temporarily given for outdoor dining and socialising this summer.

Four spaces on Dominick Street, four on Mount Street and four in Blackhall Car Park are being re-purposed by Westmeath County Council to enable al fresco dining during for what the government has termed “outdoor summer”.

Funding is coming from the latest round of the Additional Outdoor Infrastructure Fund. The council has been allocated €8,500 for the dining space on Dominick St, €5,500 for Blackhall Car Park and €5,300 for Mount St. The local allocation is part of an overall €13m nationwide package announced last week by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.

In Athlone, a total of €40,000 (€20,000 each) has been allocated to create outdoor dining spaces in Bridge St and Market Sq.

The measures are being introduced as quickly as possible to support the safe re-opening and include as kerb widening to facilitate outdoor dining, new on-street furniture, improved cycling facilities, and traffic management changes that prioritise pedestrians and cyclists.

Minister Ryan said: “We want to ensure that local authorities have the resources they need to help people enjoy a safe outdoor summer. The fund enables measures such as cycling and walking infrastructure, re-allocation of road and street space and traffic management.”