Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The SuperValu TidyTowns competition is a unique community movement which has a huge impact on our communities throughout Ireland. It is an effective and important sustainability initiative in Ireland, both from an environmental and community perspective. It encourages communities to improve their local environment and make their area a better place to live, work and visit in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future, the national rural development policy. The competition has evolved in recent years, widening its focus to supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

At the national awards ceremony in the RDS in October last, I was delighted to announce Trim, Co Meath as Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2022. At the event I also announced a funding package of €1.4 million to support TidyTowns groups in their initiatives for the 2023 competition. This funding brings the total allocation by my Department since 2017 to €8.1 million in direct funding to over 1,000 TidyTowns groups.

I launched the 2023 SuperValu TidyTowns competition in Trim on March 24th. Towns and villages across the country have until May 10th to submit their entry. A small number of entries have been received to date but a full list of all entries will be placed on the SuperValu TidyTowns website once all applications have been received.