John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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19. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the town and village renewal scheme; when she expects to announce successful applicants; her plans for the scheme in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31161/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On 9th August this year, I launched the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the Government’s programme to support rural development. I have allocated €10 million in capital funding for the scheme this year – a significant increase on the €4m baseline allocation in my Department’s Vote for 2016. Local Authorities, in conjunction with local communities and businesses, were each invited to submit up to 8 proposals to my Department by the end of September for approval. A total of 172 applications were received under the scheme and my officials are currently assessing these applications. The assessments will be completed by the end of October and the successful projects will be announced shortly after that.

I have secured increased funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme as part of Budget 2017 – a trebling of the 2016 baseline allocation of €4m. Under the 2017 scheme, I intend to run a pilot to encourage increased residential occupancy in town and village centres. Details of this scheme are being finalised by my officials.

The Town and Village Renewal scheme is just one of a range of measures in the Programme for a Partnership Government which will support rural development. I am currently developing an Action Plan for Rural Development, which will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government that will benefit rural Ireland. My objective is to publish the Action Plan before the end of the year.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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20. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money that was made available to which counties under the town and village renewal scheme in tabular form; specifically which towns and villages; of those funds made available, the proportion that was used; the review process and analysis in place for the effectiveness of the scheme; the results of such a review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31152/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On 9th August this year, I launched the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the Government’s programme to support rural development. I allocated €10 million in capital funding for the scheme this year - a significant increase on the €4m baseline allocation in my Department’s Vote for 2016 - with €380,000 available to each county. The scheme is administered through the Local Authorities who were each invited, in consultation with local communities and businesses, to submit up to 8 proposals to my Department by the end of September for approval. Up to 85% of the total project cost will be provided in grant aid for approved projects. The minimum grant payable is €20,000; the maximum grant is €100,000.

A total of 172 applications for funding were received by my Department under the scheme and my officials are currently assessing these applications. The assessments will be completed by the end of October and the successful projects will be announced shortly after that. Funding to all approved projects will be released once the assessments are complete.

A full evaluation of the scheme will take place once the approved projects have been completed.

I should mention that I have secured increased funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme as part of Budget 2017 – a trebling of the 2016 baseline allocation of €4m. Under the 2017 scheme, I intend to run a pilot to encourage increased residential occupancy in town and village centres. Details of this scheme are being finalised by my officials.