Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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209. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount provided under the capital plan for the revitalisation of rural towns and villages; the amount spent to date; the progress to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18844/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Last year I launched a new Town and Village Renewal Scheme with €10 million in capital funding available to support the rejuvenation of towns and villages across rural Ireland. The scheme was administered by the Local Authorities and funding of €9.88 million was issued to them to support 170 towns and villages across every county in Ireland.

I have today launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2017, with funding of €20 million to be allocated to support up to 300 rural towns and villages over the next 15 months.

This year’s scheme will place an emphasis on measures which have a clear and sustainable economic impact on rural towns and villages. Projects will be selected by means of a competitive process, initially at Local Authority level, with the final project selection being made in July by my Department.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a package of measures at national and local level to support the rejuvenation of towns and villages across rural Ireland. Other measures include initiatives in areas such as heritage, arts and culture, the re-use of vacant premises, energy efficiency and business supports.

I will also be announcing a separate pilot initiative under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme later in the year to encourage people to take up residential occupancy of vacant properties in town and village centres. Further details of this pilot will be announced in the second half of the year.