Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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38. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to the Tidy Towns organisation in 2017; and if he plans to repeat the contribution to it in 2018. [25829/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In November 2017 I announced a once-off grant scheme to mark the 60th anniversary of the TidyTowns competition in 2018.  Under the scheme, and based on the TidyTowns categories, TidyTowns Committees in villages were eligible to receive €1,000.  Committees in small towns were eligible to receive €2,000; in large towns €3,000; and in large urban centres €4,000.

The purpose of the scheme was to recognise, in a small way, the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past 60 years in the TidyTowns movement. 

In total €1.4 million was allocated to over 900 TidyTowns Committees across the country under the scheme.  I am delighted that so many Committees were able to avail of the grant and I hope that it will help in the work they carry out in 2018.

This was a once-off grant to mark the special circumstances of the 2018 anniversary. I currently have no plans to run a similar grant scheme in 2018.