Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development strategy.

The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, over €149 million has been approved for more than 1,600 projects across the country.

The 2022 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects which support bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces. On 14 December 2022, I announced over €17 million for projects under the main 2022 Scheme which will benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.

There was an extremely high level of interest in the main Scheme with 138 applications received to the value of €30.4m. Following assessment 75 projects were awarded funding of just over €17m.

As applications are submitted to my Department by local authorities my officials provide feedback in respect of unsuccessful applications directly to the local authorities. I would encourage the relevant communities and groups to engage directly with their local authority which submitted the application under the Scheme. It is open to local authorities to resubmit given projects under future calls for funding under the Scheme.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1902. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a report and-or feedback on the recent unsuccessful application by an organisation (details supplied) to the town and village renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63651/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures included in Our Rural Future to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, over €149 million has been approved for more than 1,600 projects across the country.

On 14^thDecember last, I announced over €17 million for projects under the 2022 Scheme which will benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. The primary focus of the 2022 Scheme is to place particular emphasis on projects which support bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces.

Each year there are significant numbers of applications to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which always exceed the level of funding available. The Cushinstown application, while scoring well, did not meet the minimum score for funding in 2022.

As the applications are submitted to my Department by the relevant local authority, feedback has been provided directly to Wexford County Council. It is open to the local authority to resubmit the project under future calls for funding under the Scheme.