Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2016
4. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the regeneration of rural towns and villages (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19896/16]
View answerIreland’s towns and villages are the focus of the social, commercial and civic life of their wider communities. Research conducted by the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) has, however, shown that rural towns have felt the impact of the economic challenges of recent years more acutely than cities and larger urban centres. This significant deterioration of many small towns and villages throughout the country is clearly visible in the form of empty shops, abandoned buildings, vacant lands and a generally poor environment to live in or visit. Targeted action is needed to arrest this decline and instead harness the regeneration potential of our towns and villages to support a now recovering economy.
The introduction of a new scheme to support town and village regeneration is part of a concerted effort to support the development of rural towns and villages, not only as a component of a broader approach to rural development but also to improve the environment of rural dwellers in a way that will increase their quality of life and simultaneously enhance their potential to support potential economic activity in their area in the future.
I will shortly be launching the 2016 Town and Village Renewal scheme, which will be delivered by local authorities in conjunction with local communities and development organisations. The type of projects to be funded under this initiative will primarily be a matter for the local authorities to identify in partnership with their communities. However, the overall intention of the funding would be to focus on increasing the attractiveness of the town or village as a local commercial and social centre, enhancing its environment and tackling minor physical infrastructural deficits and land assembly issues. The 2016 scheme will be strategically focused on the rural towns and villages that require assistance to stimulate new development and regeneration locally. It will specifically target small towns and villages with populations of 5,000 or less.
