Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for asking this question. Introduced in 2016, the town and village renewal scheme is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since its launch, over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects supporting towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.

As committed to in Our Rural Future, Ireland's rural development policy, the town and village renewal scheme priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities. This year's scheme has a renewed focus on town centre economic and social vibrancy.

This will be achieved through projects focusing on town regeneration, enhancing streetscapes and bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use as community multi-purpose spaces through refurbishment and renovation.

The town and village renewal scheme is administered through local authorities, which work closely with local communities and businesses to develop proposals that can make a lasting impact on rural towns and villages. Under the 2023 town and village renewal scheme, there is no minimum submission requirement. However, local authorities are invited to submit up to five applications up to the value of €1.5 million per local authority. For areas with inhabited offshore islands, six applications are permitted up to a maximum of €1.75 million. The town and village renewal scheme team in my Department engages systematically with local authorities and assists with any queries that may arise during the process of advertising, preparing and submitting applications to ensure the scheme has the maximum impact. Applications under this year's scheme must be received by my Department by close of business on 10 November 2023.

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