Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the action plan for rural development; the projects that will be eligible for the scheme; if structural refurbishment of existing business premises such as bed and breakfasts will be included in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11117/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Rural Development was launched on 23 January this year and includes many schemes and programmes for implementation across a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other organisations over the next three years.

I assume the Deputy's question refers to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which comes under my Department's remit. I have secured funding of €12 million for the scheme this year. The first phase of the scheme will be launched shortly, with a focus on improving the economic development of our towns and villages. Full details of the scheme and the application process will be made available when the scheme is launched.

As a second phase of the Town and Village Renewal scheme this year, I intend to launch a pilot project to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. This scheme will be targeted at owner-occupiers and will not be available for commercial enterprises. I do not anticipate, therefore, that bed and breakfast establishments will be included in the scheme.

This pilot will be launched separately in the second half of the year, when details of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with relevant Departments. Full details of the criteria to apply will be announced when the pilot is launched.