Written answers

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a scheme of financial assistance and tax incentives will be introduced to assist the upgrading of accommodation in towns and villages to provide housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24914/17]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23rd 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. I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 13th April last, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. Funding of €20 million has been made available under the scheme, which will support up to 300 towns and villages over the next 15 months.

I will separately launch a pilot scheme in the second half of this year to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot will examine ways in which properties that are currently not in use in town centres can be renovated to allow them to be used for residential purposes. The scheme will be aimed at owner-occupiers.

Details of the scheme are being finalised in consultation with relevant Departments and full particulars will be announced when the pilot scheme is launched later in the year.

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