The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, will today officially open a new business and childcare centre in Drumshanbo in Co Leitrim, on the site of the famous old Lairds jam factory in the town.
The centre has been developed after eight years of planning by the local Drumshanbo community council.
The derelict site was donated to the community council by Mr Joe Burke of the Burke supermarket chain in Tuam, Co Galway, for a nominal sum. Mr Burke has since died. The council was then awarded a grant by the Co Leitrim Enterprise Board for a feasibility study to be carried out.
Working with the various organisations and agencies in the region, the council decided on the business and childcare centre.
"Childcare had become a very focal issue," the community council secretary, Ms Rosaleen Kielty, said. "We wanted to build something which was useful and beneficial to the community." The first phase of funding for the centre came via the Co Leitrim partnership. A grant of £12,500 paved the way for demolition of the old Lairds factory.
The council found that building costs were increasing at a rapid rate as the development progressed, but it persevered with its plan. It received £103,000 from the Peace and Reconciliation Programme, and £270,000 from the International Fund for Ireland.
It also applied to the equal opportunities childcare programme and was awarded more than £500,000.
The centre itself has been operational since January 1st and employs 30 people.
The new county childcare committee has its offices on the ground floor, where the childcare needs of special needs children are also catered for.
A suite of offices on the top floor includes accommodation for the new commissioned community wardens, the North Connacht Youth Worker, and Leitrim Organic Farmers.
"It's a building which visually enhances the town, being located beside the river", Ms Kielty said.
"It has been very much a community- led project. The community council had sat around at meetings once a month for years and had talked about what we could and should do. I think we can take a little bit of glory on Friday that we have achieved something which will be there as a lasting monument in the town."