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Tidy Towns Committees Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 February 2019

Wednesday, 27 February 2019

Questions (203)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

203. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans in relation to the provision of ring-fenced funding under the Tidy Towns competition funding for RAPID designated housing estates to encourage the residents of these estates to get involved in the management and maintenance of the estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9770/19]

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Written answers

The Tidy Towns competition was originally launched by Fáilte Ireland over 60 years ago. Since its inception, the competition has grown from 52 entrants in 1958, to 883 entrants in 2018.

As Minister for Rural and Community Development, I was delighted to be in a position to announce grant funding to TidyTowns Committees of €1.4 million for each of the years 2017 and 2018, to mark the 60th anniversary of the competition. This funding has allowed the Committees to prepare better for the annual competition through the purchase or upgrade of small equipment and other materials.

While there is no specific funding ring-fenced for TidyTowns Committees looking to maintain housing estates, it should be noted that TidyTowns Committees can apply, as community groups, for funding to other schemes within my Department, such as the Community Enhancement Programme. This programme is administered through the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), and allows applications for funding for the management and maintenance of estates.

In 2018, 158 applications were approved for funding of €536,816 to TidyTowns Committees under the Community Enhancement Programme.

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