Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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765. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which she expects to be in a position to allocate funding for specific projects throughout the country towards rejuvenating activity in rural towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20812/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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766. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has prioritised specific projects throughout the regions to maximise or rejuvenate projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20813/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 765 and 766 together.

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 Ireland, which also includes initiatives in areas such as heritage, tourism, arts and culture, the re-use of vacant premises, and business supports.

On 13 April, I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development. This scheme will see €20 million in funding being invested in towns and villages across rural Ireland over the next 15 months. I anticipate that up to 300 towns and villages will benefit from funding under the Scheme.

The Scheme is specifically targeted at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 people, with a particular emphasis on those with less than 5,000 people. Support for projects will generally range from €20,000 to a maximum of €100,000. Funding of up to €200,000 will also be considered for a limited number of projects which can deliver exceptionally strong economic benefits to a town and its outlying areas.

Projects which have clear positive economic impacts on the town/village or which stimulate economic activity between a town/village and its neighbouring townlands will be strongly encouraged, as will projects which demonstrate leveraging of, or linkages with, other schemes operated by Government Departments or agencies (e.g. in the areas of heritage, arts, culture, tourism, tidy towns, recreational facilities, re-use of vacant premises, vacant sites, energy efficiency schemes, etc.).

The closing date for applications is 30 June 2017.