Written Answers Nos. 640-641
640. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cumulative budget allocated to the town and village renewal scheme - streetscapes from 2017 to 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56391/22]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The Scheme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of “Our Rural Future”, and is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €120 million has been approved for more than 1,400 projects across the country. It has supported a range of activities from improving public realm areas to initiatives such as the development of enterprise hubs and remote working facilities. These projects have been identified and developed by local community groups and businesses, in conjunction with their local authorities.
In August 2021, I introduced a new Streetscape Enhancement Measure under the TVRS which aims to improve the visual appearance of streetscapes in our rural towns and villages, and make them more attractive places to live, work and visit. This funding helped to improve the visual appearance of towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. In August of this year, I allocated a further €2.6 million under the Measure. I also allocated funding for investment in digital hubs as part of a Connected Hubs Fund.
Also in 2021, I introduced a new Project Development Measure of over €850,000 for 19 projects. The purpose of this measure is to assist local authorities to contribute to a pipeline of significant, well-developed projects which might be subsequently progressed to constructions stage, subject to the availability of further funding. The 2022 projects are currently being assessed with announcements expected shortly.
In relation to the 2022 TVRS, earlier this year I announced the allocation of €7.5m for the new Building Acquisition Measure to allow local authorities purchase vacant/derelict buildings, with a view to bringing back to use as multi purpose community spaces. I also allocated a total of €1.1m this year to support innovative marketing campaigns to attract remote workers to locations across rural Ireland. In respect of the remaining measures of the 2022 TVRS, applications are currently on hand and being evaluated. I expect to announce further allocations in this regard in the coming weeks.
The following table provides a breakdown of the budget allocated to the town and village renewal scheme across the various measures from 2017 to 2022.
|
Scheme/Measure |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Total |
|
TVRS |
€21,637,435 |
€21,320,121 |
€14,989,996 |
€15,402,757 |
€18,344,770 |
See Note* |
€91,695,079 |
|
TVRS Accelerated Measure |
- |
- |
- |
€10,390,609 |
- |
- |
€10,390,609 |
|
Project Development Measure |
- |
- |
- |
- |
€862,547 |
See Note* |
€862,547 |
|
Streetscape Enhancement Measure |
- |
- |
- |
- |
€6,535,551 |
€2,600,000 |
€9,135,551 |
|
Marketing Measure |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
€1,121,624 |
€1,121,624 |
|
Building Acquisition Measure |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
€7,553,125 |
€7,553,125 |
|
Total |
€21,637,435 |
€21,320,121 |
€14,989,996 |
€25,793,366 |
€25,742,868 |
€11,274,749 |
€120,758,535 |
* Funding for 2022 projects will be announced shortly
641. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an EU regulation or rule is in place that would prohibit her from providing for a dedicated sub-region for the offshore islands under LEADER; if so, when the regulation or rule was first introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56650/22]
View answerLEADER is a key programme within Our Rural Future, and as I announced recently the Expression of Interest stage to select the Groups to deliver the next LEADER programme is now open.
Article 31 of the EU Common Provisions Regulation 2021/1060 requires Member States to ensure that community-led local development is focused on sub-regional areas. As is the case with the current LEADER programme, the sub regional areas for the new LEADER programme will correspond with county boundaries. This alignment will help to ensure coherence of LEADER funding with other initiatives and policies delivered on a county basis, thus helping to deliver the best impact and value for money for LEADER.
The offshore islands will continue to be aligned with their relevant sub-regional area and a separate Island Local Action Group (LAG) will not form part of the LEADER delivery model.
A number of important elements are included in the model for the new programme which address the specific needs and challenges of the Island communities. Any LAGs selected in an area that includes island communities will be required to identify in their LEADER strategy specific actions developed in consultation with the island communities themselves and include an indicative budget to implement such actions. In addition, a representative of the island grouping, in each sub-regional area, must be included in the decision-making body of the LAG.
It is important that the key public and private stakeholders in communities across Ireland come together in partnership to deliver the new LEADER programme, ensuring that LEADER can continue to deliver real benefits to rural communities across Ireland including our island communities.
