Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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478. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the town and village scheme funding application by a community group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23967/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) 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.

In 2017, €96,000 was awarded to Balla under TVRS for enhancement works. This funding was drawn down in stages in 2018 and 2019 and this project is fully completed.

On 14 December 2022, I announced funding of over €27m under the Town and Village Renewal scheme for 2022. This included funding of €120,000 for Balla, for the development of a community park at Woodlands Estate and for Community and Enterprise hub in the courthouse building.

Following this announcement, my Department sought additional clarification from Mayo County Council. This has been received and the Letter of Offer and Funding Agreement issued on the 8th March 2023.

A signed funding agreement was received from Mayo County Council on 21st March 2023 which confirms that the local authority were in agreement with the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement. Therefore, works on the development of a community park at Woodlands Estate and for Community and Enterprise hub in the courthouse building have been eligible to commence from 21 March 2023.