Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the €3 million allocated to the town and village regeneration as outlined in Budget 2018; the amount that has been spent; the way in which the money has been spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27254/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key component in the revitalisation of rural towns and villages and in sustaining our rural communities. The scheme was introduced in 2016 and €10 million in funding was allocated to 170 projects in the first year of operation.

In 2017, as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development, I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme with a focus on projects that could bring a positive economic impact to our rural towns and villages.  The allocation for the scheme in the 2017 Revised Estimates Volume was €12 million.

I launched a further round of the scheme in April of this year, with an indicative allocation of €15 million.  This represents a €3 million increase on the 2017 Revised Estimates allocation.  

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is administered through the Local Authorities who are required to consult with local communities in identifying town and village projects for submission to my Department for consideration.  The closing date for the submission of applications to my Department under the 2018 scheme is 30th June. I anticipate that up to 200 projects will be approved arising from this call for proposals.

Projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme are typically delivered over a 12 to 18 period and straddle more than one financial year.  Since its introduction in 2016, the scheme has supported over 450 projects and is having a positive impact on rural towns and villages in terms of supporting improvements in infrastructure, public realm enhancements, and job creation initiatives.