Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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236. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department provides funding for community groups to develop town and village plans. [44308/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The development of town and village plans are eligible for support under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is operated by my Department and administered through the Local Authorities. Local Authorities are required to develop proposals under the scheme in consultation with local communities.

I recently approved funding of €21.6 million to 281 rural towns and villages under the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme for projects that focus on improving the economic development of those towns and villages. A number of these projects included funding for the development of Town Health Checks and Town Plans. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is now closed for 2017.

Earlier this year, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation launched a Framework for Town Centre Renewal, which is a useful support document for towns and villages seeking to develop plans to rejuvenate their centres.

Assistance may also be available for feasibility studies under the LEADER Programme for this type of initiative, subject to certain conditions. The Local Action Groups which administer the LEADER programme would be in a position to provide further details.

In addition, the Heritage Council, an agency under the aegis of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, operates a Community-led Village Design Statement programme, details of which are available at .