Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
103. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the work of the Action Plan for Rural Development specifically relating to the revitalisation of towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38589/18]
View answerThe Government's Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017. The Plan includes a range of measures to support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages. Progress Reports on each of the measures in the Action Plan are published on my Department's website twice-yearly, with the most recent report published last May.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key part of the Action Plan for Rural Development. Since the launch of the Action Plan, I have allocated €21.6 million to 281 projects throughout the country under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This follows on from €10 million which was allocated to 170 projects under the scheme in 2016, prior to the publication of the Action Plan. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme has therefore provided in excess of €31 million to over 450 projects since 2016.
I launched the 2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 27th April last, which will see up to 200 further towns and villages benefit from an indicative allocation of €15 million over the next 15 to 18 months.
The Government’s commitment to supporting rural Ireland is underscored through the creation of the new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund as part of Project Ireland 2040. This new Fund will provide an opportunity to deliver more integrated and ambitious projects which will further support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages in the coming years. The first call for proposals under this Fund is now open and applications will be accepted up to 12 noon on 27th September.
