Project Name: |
Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaiochta (InaG) |
---|---|
Zone: |
Belfast West |
Category: |
Capital |
Social Investment Fund Outcomes: |
Increasing Community Services |
Status: |
Operational – Construction Complete |
Funding awarded: |
£1,581,488 |
About the Project
The InaG project involved the construction of an iconic 5 storey community building and office development which will be a vibrant media hub in the Gaeltacht Quarter - Áras na bhFál (Falls House).
The new building is located on the corner of Broadway and Falls Road and acts as a focal gateway point not only to the Gaeltacht area but also the West Belfast area as a whole. It will promote physical and economic development and contribute to regeneration within the local area by physically improving the key junction site, providing appropriate space in an Irish language environment and attracting businesses and investment into the local community.
The project received funding contributions from the Department of Education, An Ciste and the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure.
Progress to date
The InaG Project has completed construction and is operational. This new flagstone building is a sustainable and high quality commercial space that will rejuvenate the area, link with existing signature project developments and provide the SIF West Belfast Zone with a differentiated and iconic media hub that will help promote the Gaeltacht Quarter. The centre will offer infrastructural opportunities for public, private and community Irish Language organisations to grow and develop. It will also contribute to the local economic, cultural and tourism development by offering valuable office and exhibition space. The building was nominated for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) Design Awards 2022.
Impacts
Monitoring and evaluation of all Social Investment Fund projects is carried out using “Outcomes Based Accountability” (OBA). Where SIF has funded capital works, the project provides quarterly “post-capital” data for a period of 3 years which details the positive impacts enabled by the capital works undertaken. The final capital infographic below highlights some of the key impacts of the project to date. The InaG project is in the early stages of post capital OBA returns and the OBA data collection for the post capital infographic is ongoing.