Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if applications are still being accepted for the town and village renewal scheme; if not, when this scheme will be accepting new applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15641/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Towns and villages are at the heart of our rural communities and the Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that the renewal of towns and villages can play an important role in revitalising rural Ireland. Last year, therefore, I launched a new Town and Village Renewal Scheme, with funding of €10 million, to start the process of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential.

The 2016 Scheme is now closed and approximately 170 applications were approved for funding across the country.

I have secured funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme this year. I intend to launch the first phase of this scheme shortly, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. The scheme will be administered through the Local Authorities and full details of the scheme, including the timeframe for accepting applications, will be made available when the scheme is launched.

I also intend to launch a second phase of the scheme later this year, which will involve a pilot project to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot will be launched in the second half of the year, when details of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with relevant Departments.