Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2017
28. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when she expects to launch the town and village renewal scheme 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11547/17]
View answerOn the launch of the town and village renewal scheme for 2017, the 2016 scheme was very successful and a great way to re-energise our rural towns and villages. Many of the villages in Kildare South are keen to get their applications in for the new scheme. It was great to have the Minister in south Kildare yesterday, when she visited a number of the areas where funding went last year. Does the Minister envisage any change to the eligibility criteria for the 2017 scheme and what areas of development will the 2017 scheme focus on?
The action plan for rural development, which was launched on 23 January, contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential. As part of the 2017 budget, I have secured funding of €12 million for an enhanced town and village renewal scheme this year. I intend to launch the first phase of this scheme in the coming weeks, with a focus on improving the economic development of our towns and villages.
To ensure the maximum impact of the scheme, I am exploring how best we can align this scheme with other initiatives across Government which can also support the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages. The town and village renewal scheme will be funded by my Department and administered by the local authorities. Full details of the scheme will be made available when the scheme is launched. I also intend to launch a second phase of the scheme later this year. This will be a pilot project to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot will be launched in the second half of the year, when details of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with relevant Departments.
I very much welcome the fact that there will be an enhanced scheme. In her response the Minister outlined some of the focus on the areas. Last year, €380,000 came to County Kildare to Athy, Kildare town, Ballymore Eustace, Timolin, Ballitore and Prosperous. The €95,000 towards the upgrade of the town square in Athy is crucial as is the €95,000 towards a framework plan for Kildare town. However, in the smaller villages such as Ballitore, which the Minister visited yesterday, the Tanyard project is a key example of a village that will benefit greatly from the investment. Another example is Ballymore Eustace, with €45,000 towards the landscape enhancement, €20,000 towards a feature entrance to Timolin and €100,000 for the plan in Prosperous. When will applications for 2017 have to be in for the rural communities that have seen the projects I have outlined and which are enviously planning their own projects for the year ahead?
I will launch the scheme shortly. I was delighted to visit Ballitore yesterday with the Deputy and see first hand where my Department's money is being spent and the major positive impact it has on rural communities. The Tanyard consists of three historic masonry tannery buildings. My Department was able to award €100,000 to the project under the rural economic development zone, REDZ, scheme. As the Deputy said, the aim of the project is to refurbish the Tanyard to make it a focal point for the village of Ballitore. As the Deputy has shown, many shops in the village have closed over decades.
This is an opportunity. A vibrant community has come together, worked with the local authorities and put in an application saying it will make the difference in their community. I am delighted we have been able to support it. It is due to the prudent management of the economy by the Fine Gael led Government since 2011 which, coupled with the sacrifices made by the Irish people, has led to our economic recovery. Were it not for the economic recovery, we would not be in the happy position in which we are able to start to invest in our towns and villages.
I thank the Minister. I agree, that is where it is at.
Hopefully the Ministers in control of the purse strings will allow the Minister greater latitude in the finances we have to spend on this scheme in the year ahead. I would be a great advocate for where the money has already gone to, as outlined, such as to villages like Ballitore that have been allocated €125,000. Similarly we have communities in towns and villages like Castledermot, Rathangan and Kilcullen looking at the potential ways they can address the rejuvenation of their own towns and villages with the assistance of this scheme. If the focus remains on economic development linked in with the vibrant heart of a rural community, is there any specific advice the Minister would have for those communities as they look to put together their key projects?
I will launch a new round of the town and village renewal scheme shortly and the criteria are currently being finalised. The emphasis again will be very much on supporting innovative projects that support economic regeneration and can make a real and lasting difference to our local towns and villages. It will also be about communities coming forward. I have not yet seen a good project that did not get funding. It may not all come from one place; people can get funding from different sources and a good project will always get funding. I have seen that many times over the years. My advice to people is to look at what is best suited to their community and what is going to work in their town. Nobody knows this better than the local people. They should do this in conjunction with their local authority to work together. It is about working together that makes the difference and about working collaboratively.
