Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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568. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the grants for refurbishing old buildings in rural communities that were announced in the Action Plan for Rural Development will be available; the details of the scheme; the grant assistance which will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Rural Development 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.

The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in April 2017 and, in October, I announced the allocation of €21.6 million to 281 projects in towns and villages across rural Ireland. These projects cover a number of initiatives, ranging from public realm works to the creation of enterprise and creative hubs.

As part of the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a pilot to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages was also announced. This proposed pilot scheme will consider 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. This will further help to rejuvenate town centres while also contributing to the housing needs of individuals.

Following initial discussions at official level, I have now established a Steering Group to accelerate and oversee the design and delivery of the pilot scheme. This group will meet shortly and details of the pilot scheme will be made available when they are finalised.