Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1532. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the towns that were unsuccessful in their application to the town and village renewal scheme 2017, in tabular form; the amounts they had requested; the reason they did not receive funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55021/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which forms an important part of the Action Plan for rural Development was launched on 13th April last, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages.

In total, my Department received 333 applications under the scheme, including 20 applications under a separate strand for public art works. Officials in my Department assessed each Town and Village application under 5 separate criteria:

- Economic Development potential

- Strategic nature of the proposal, in line with Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs)

- Demonstration of need and potential

- Realistic nature of the proposal

- Value for Money

In order to reach a minimum qualifying standard, a score of at least 65% had to be achieved under each of the criteria listed above.

On the 4th October last, I published a list of 281 successful projects, to a total value of €21.6 million,  to be supported under the 2017 scheme. A decision on the 20 applications for funding for public art works was deferred. In addition there were 32 applications that were that were unsuccessful in their bid for funding. I will revert to the Deputy with the details of these applications in tabular form within the coming days.