Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

129. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update on the 2025 town and village renewal scheme; the number of applications received; and when recipients of the grants will be announced. [38065/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and has to date allocated over €177 million to almost 1,800 projects nationally. The scheme, which sees local authorities work with communities throughout the country, primarily targets funding at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000, although towns with a population of up to 15,000 may be eligible if a high-quality application is received.

The 2025 TVRS, which was launched in March, intends to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland by focusing on stimulating town centre economic and social regeneration. The 2025 scheme includes three funding streams for project applications, the Building or Land Acquisition Measure (BLAM), the Main Scheme and the Project Development Measure (PDM). The BLAM is now closed for applications and the assessment process is nearing completion. Details of the successful projects will be announced shortly.

The Main Scheme and PDM are currently open for applications via local authorities with a closing date of 25 July 2025. Officials from my Department are continuing to liaise with local authorities to support the development of applications.

All applications received in the Department will be assessed as part of a competitive process. Funding under the Scheme will be awarded following the assessment of applications for suitability against scheme criteria and objectives. Full details of the 2025 scheme are available on my Department's website.

I look forward to receiving high quality applications from across the country, and to announcing the successful applications later this year.