Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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469. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the scheme for restoring old dwelling houses in rural areas; the amounts available; the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18195/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23 January, contains a number of measures which have the objective 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.

From my own Department’s perspective, I have secured funding of €12 million per annum for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme. I intend to launch the first phase of this scheme very shortly, with a focus on improving the economic development of our towns and villages. Full details of the initiative will be available when the scheme is launched.

I also intend to launch a second phase of the scheme later this year. This will be a pilot project to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. My intention is that the scheme will be targeted at owner-occupiers and will assist with the cost of bringing buildings back into use for residential purposes.

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. Full details of the criteria to apply will be announced when the pilot is launched.