Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2385. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the establishment of a fund to support towns and villages which have been economically devastated by the creation of major bypasses will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33967/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a suite of schemes to support rural towns and villages, including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the CLÁR scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which I launched recently.
The central aim of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is to support the revitalisation of towns and villages in order to improve the living and working environment for their communities. The scheme is targeted at towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people, with a particular focus on those with a population of less than 5,000. Applications are submitted to my Department by Local Authorities, following their consultation with local communities. The scheme places an emphasis on measures that can generate an economic stimulus for towns and villages to be supported.
Over 450 projects across the country have been funded to the value of €31.6 million under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme since it was introduced in the second half of 2016. Applications under the 2018 scheme are currently being assessed and it is anticipated that a further 200 projects will be supported under this year's scheme, with indicative funding of €15 million available.
The Government’s commitment to supporting the rejuvenation of rural Ireland, including smaller towns and villages, is further underscored through Project Ireland 2040, which has seen the creation of a new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. This new Fund, which will operate over a ten year period, will provide an opportunity to deliver more integrated and ambitious projects which will further support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages.
Full details of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are available on my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie. I launched the first call for proposals under the Fund earlier this month and the closing date for receipt of applications from this call is 27th September 2018. I envisage that a further call for proposals will be announced in the first half of 2019.
As a result of the Government's investment in rural regeneration over the last two years, towns and villages, including those that have been affected by the creation of major bypasses, now have several funding avenues available to support them.
