Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2020
117. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the lead Department in fulfilling the commitment in the programme for Government to invest in infrastructure to support the development of rural towns and villages. [16232/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of Departments have responsibility for investing in infrastructure to support the development of rural town and villages.
My Department supports the development of rural towns and villages through a number of measures, and particularly through investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, almost €68 million has been allocated to more than 830 projects across Ireland. The 2020 Town and Village Scheme, which is currently open for applications through the Local Authorities, places particular emphasis on the economic and social recovery of our towns and villages. This may include public realm projects to make towns and villages more accessible in the context of COVID-19 public health requirements, or supports for projects with a direct economic impact, such as enterprise hubs or remote working solutions.
In addition, as part of the 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a new standalone Measure was introduced that will provide accelerated support for towns and villages to adapt to public health requirements in response to COVID-19 in the short term, and to encourage increased footfall in our towns and villages.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides investment to support rural economic development and help build strong communities in towns and villages and their outlying areas. The projects approved for funding under the Fund are of a larger scale than the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and deliver essential infrastructure to ensure the sustainable recovery and growth of rural towns and villages. To date 134 projects have been approved for funding of €161 million for projects worth a total of €229 million.
The third call for Category 1 shovel-ready proposals under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is now open. The primary focus of the third call under the Fund is to support capital projects that will support economic recovery and the overall economic development of rural towns and villages.
