Minister Darragh O'Brien feels a proposal to turn Athlone into a green city by 2040 has merit.
The Environment Minister says a Westmeath town has all it needs to graduate into Ireland's first Green City.
However Daragh O'Brien believes work remains to be done at county council level before the project can be realised.
The Ballymore Group, headed by Sean Mulryan, is looking to double Athlone's population, power it with 90 per cent renewable energy and expand the campus of TUS significantly by 2040.
Mr. Mulryan is calling on town councillors in both Westmeath and Roscommon to pursue state support for the project.
Minister O'Brien says the proposals brought forward so far are positive:
Laois Gardaí Concerned For Missing Woman
Gardaí Searching For Missing Laois Teenager
Man In His 90s Dies In Laois Crash
Offaly Prize Bonds Holder Wins €500k
BNM Workshop Reunion Taking Place In Offaly Tomorrow
ICTU Reminds Employees Of The Right To Disconnect
Laois Town To Host Famine Commemoration Event
Plans For Billion Euro Data Centre In Westmeath Face New Appeal
Westmeath Councillor Advocates For More Remote Working Hubs
Midlands Homelessness On The Rise
Hundreds Without Power In Westmeath
Westmeath Domestic Abuse Support Service Reports Rise In Cases
Laois TD Highlights GP Gap
Call Made For 'Cost Of Disability Payment' in Budget 2027
Offaly Coffee Shop Listed Among Top 100 In Europe
Man To Stand Trial Over Midlands Tasering Accusation
Another Report Underlines Midlands House Price Inflation
Midlands Braced For Severe Thunderstorms
Sustainable Livestock Village Programme Launched For Tullamore Show
Offaly Woman Named National Carer Of The Year