Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1901. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a feedback mechanism to communities and groups who failed to obtain funding under the town and villages renewal scheme, to ensure that applicants can learn the reason that their applications were not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63532/22]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development strategy.
The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, over €149 million has been approved for more than 1,600 projects across the country.
The 2022 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects which support bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces. On 14 December 2022, I announced over €17 million for projects under the main 2022 Scheme which will benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.
There was an extremely high level of interest in the main Scheme with 138 applications received to the value of €30.4m. Following assessment 75 projects were awarded funding of just over €17m.
As applications are submitted to my Department by local authorities my officials provide feedback in respect of unsuccessful applications directly to the local authorities. I would encourage the relevant communities and groups to engage directly with their local authority which submitted the application under the Scheme. It is open to local authorities to resubmit given projects under future calls for funding under the Scheme.
