Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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30. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the Tidy Towns Competition will be allowed proceed in 2021 under social distancing regulations. [24445/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The TidyTowns competition has a unique place in Ireland’s culture.  Since its inception in 1958 when it had 52 entrants, the competition has grown year-on-year to see a record number of 924 entrants in 2019. 

Unfortunately, the 2020 SuperValu TidyTowns competition had to be cancelled this year on public health grounds, due to COVID-19. The work of the TidyTowns Committees is built on communities coming together and working together.  In the situation we found ourselves in this year, it would not have been possible for Committees around the country to deliver their projects in the usual way.

The situation in relation to the 2021 competition will depend on the public health considerations and advice as we head into the first quarter of next year.

My Department will be monitoring the situation on an on-going basis and a decision on the competition, with any necessary precautions in place, will be made early in 2021.  The competition undoubtedly brings many benefits to communities right across the country, not just in terms of improving the attractiveness of our urban and rural areas, but also in terms of the team work and social interaction within the TidyTowns Committees.

It is worth noting that €1.4 million was allocated to TidyTowns Committees towards the end of last year to support them in their work for the 2020 competition.  The Committees have been advised that this funding can now be carried forward to support their work in 2021.