Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The town and village renewal scheme forms an important part of the Action Plan for Rural Development and has the potential to stimulate economic recovery and job creation in towns and villages across rural Ireland. The scheme is specifically focused on rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000.

The town and village renewal scheme was introduced in the second half of 2016. To date, almost €53 million has been approved for more than 670 projects across the country. The projects cover a range of activities, from improving the public realm to make towns and villages more attractive for locals and visitors alike to job creation initiatives such as the development of enterprise and digital hubs. Details of the 2019 town and village renewal scheme are being finalised by my officials. I anticipate that the scheme will be announced during the first quarter of the year, with approvals being announced in the second half of the year, as was the case in previous years.

The scheme to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages is under way. I launched the initiative last October and announced the six rural towns which had been invited to participate in the initial pilot scheme. The scheme is being led locally by the local authorities, in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders and my Department. Up to €100,000 is being made available for each participating town. The funding will be used by the local authorities to engage with communities and local businesses and identify practical solutions to increase the number of people living in rural towns. I expect to receive a report from each of the local authorities in the first half of the year on the progress they have made. It is envisaged that the solutions identified in the six pilot scheme towns will lead to the development of more substantive proposals for funding from the rural regeneration and development fund in due course.

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