Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

399. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if town and village renewal funding will be provided to a project in County Kerry (details supplied); the anticipated timeline for allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4944/24]

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

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects across Ireland.

As committed under Our Rural Future, Ireland's rural development policy, and in line with the Town Centre First Policy, scheme priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and to respond to changing needs and opportunities.

The 2023 Scheme has a renewed focus on town centre economic and social vibrancy. This will be achieved through projects focusing on town centre regeneration, enhancing our streetscapes and bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use as community multi-purpose spaces through refurbishment and renovation.

The 2023 Scheme is now closed and the competitive assessment process is currently ongoing. I can confirm that an application has been received in relation to the project referred to. I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects before the end of Quarter 1 of 2024. However, I would like to emphasise that the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is heavily subscribed, and funding will be allocated based on suitability against scheme criteria, the geographical spread of projects, the quality of the proposed projects, and the available budget.