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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 37 together.

Our Rural Future sets out the Government's vision for the future of rural Ireland, which recognises the vital role that vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages have to play.

With this in mind, I have put in place a range of capital investment schemes as part of my Department's rural development investment programme which rural communities can avail of. I was delighted to secure an overall rural development allocation of over €205 million as part of the recent budget 2024 process.

One of the key schemes in the rural development investment programme is the town and village renewal scheme. This scheme has proved very popular with communities in recent years and is one of a number of measures designated to rejuvenate rural 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.

Each year, the priorities and focus of the scheme are reviewed to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and encourage people back to living in our rural towns and villages. 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, town parks and recreational spaces, and bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use as community multi-purpose spaces through refurbishment and renovation. It also has a specific focus on stimulating economic activity through, for example, providing support for town markets.

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. This link between local authorities and communities is essential in developing projects that deliver on the real needs identified in towns and villages, thus helping us to maximise value for money from the investment of public funds.

The closing date for receipt of applications into my Department under the 2023 scheme was last Friday, 10 November, and the assessment process has now commenced. Funding under the scheme is awarded on a competitive basis, with all applications being assessed for suitability against scheme criteria and objectives. Other factors such as the geographical spread of projects will also be taken into account as part of the assessment process to ensure we can maximise the impact of this important funding. I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects in quarter 1 of 2024 and I look forward to seeing a range of exciting and innovative projects that are selected this year for funding.

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