Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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703. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when tidy towns grants for County Cork will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40980/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Supervalu TidyTowns competition is a unique volunteer-led programme that makes a hugely positive contribution in communities across Ireland. It is abundantly clear that our support for the Tidy Towns competition has delivered very tangible and visible benefits in towns and villages all over the country.

I am very conscious of the work undertaken by our Tidy Towns Groups and of the costs which can arise in the course of this work. With this in mind, in recent years I have put in place direct financial supports to groups to support the huge efforts that these communities make.

At the 2023 national awards ceremony I announced a funding package of €1.5 million to support TidyTowns groups in their initiatives for the 2024 competition. This funding brings the total allocation by my Department since 2017 to €9.6 million in direct funding to over 1,000 TidyTowns groups.

The funding of between €1,000 and €4,000 was provided to groups to assist them in preparing for the 2024 Competition, with the added benefits of helping to make our towns and villages better places to live, work and visit. I am happy to confirm that a total of €158,000 was made available to 108 eligible groups in Co Cork in 2024.

My officials are currently in the process of designing a Tidy Town grant scheme to enable groups prepare for next year’s competition. I would also encourage TidyTowns groups to engage closely with their local authority or local development company to explore what other funding sources may be available to support the valuable voluntary work they are providing for their local communities.

The 2024 National Awards ceremony will take place in Croke Park on 1^st November 2024 and I look forward to announcing the various winners together with any plans for 2025 Tidy Towns at that event.

ENDS