Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1902. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a report and-or feedback on the recent unsuccessful application by an organisation (details supplied) to the town and village renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63651/22]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures included in Our Rural Future to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. 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.
On 14th December last, I announced over €17 million for projects under the 2022 Scheme which will benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. The primary focus of the 2022 Scheme is to place particular emphasis on projects which support bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces.
Each year there are significant numbers of applications to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which always exceed the level of funding available. The Cushinstown application, while scoring well, did not meet the minimum score for funding in 2022.
As the applications are submitted to my Department by the relevant local authority, feedback has been provided directly to Wexford County Council. It is open to the local authority to resubmit the project under future calls for funding under the Scheme.
