Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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80. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding which will be awarded to community groups in Cork under the 2025 town and village renewal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26262/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme, is one of a number of schemes delivered by my Department as part of its Rural Development Investment Programme.

The Scheme was introduced in 2016, and has to date allocated over €177 million to almost 1,800 projects nationally. Of this, Cork has been allocated over €9.5 million for 94 projects.

The 2025 scheme is intended to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland by focusing on stimulating town centre economic and social regeneration. This will be achieved through projects which support sustainable employment creation, town centre resilience and regeneration, enhancement of our streetscapes, and the bringing of vacant and derelict buildings or lands back into use as community multi-purpose spaces.

The scheme is administered through local authorities who work with local communities and businesses to develop proposals. Three main funding streams were made available to under the 2025 scheme - the Main Scheme, the Project Development Measure and the Building and/or Land Acquisition Measure. Applications under the Building and/or Land Acquisition Measure had a closing date of the 2nd May 2025. The closing date for receipt of applications under the Main Scheme and Project Development Measure is Friday 25th July 2025.

Applications received from local authorities will be assessed as part of a competitive process.

It is my intention to announce successful projects under the Building and/or Land Acquisition Measure in Quarter 3 of this year, with announcements under the Main Scheme and Project Development Measure expected towards the end of the year.

I look forward to being able to approve a range of innovative and impactful projects in Cork and other counties in line with these timelines.