Written answers

Wednesday, 17 May 2023

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Funding

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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266. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if officials from her Department will meet a delegation from an organisation (details supplied) to debrief them on the reason that their project for a remote working hub, which was supported by the delegation’s local authority, was not funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23471/23]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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 2022 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects which support bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces. 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 December 2022, I announced funding of over €17m for 75 for projects under the main 2022 Town and village Renewal Scheme. However, the Clifden Remote Working Hub project was not selected for funding. 

The Clifden Remote Working Hub project application provided good detail and evidence of the benefits of the proposed remote working hub. However due to a significant issues relating to ineligible match funding, and misalignment with priorities it was not selected for funding.

The Town and Village Scheme is administered by local authorities on behalf of my Department. Officials from my Department have engaged with Galway County Council regarding the decision on this project and are always happy to provide such feedback in order to support communities in accessing funding through well-developed project proposals.

This decision does not prevent the submission of a future funding application for this Clifden project under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. 

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