Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
54. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects to approve applications made to her Department in respect of the town and village renewal scheme 2021 and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund 2021. [60155/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding to support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages. The 2021 Scheme was launched with an indicative budget of €15 million and places particular emphasis on addressing vacancy and dereliction, projects supporting remote working, and enhancing town centre living.
My Department received 167 applications under this Scheme in 2021. These applications are currently undergoing a formal assessment process and I expect to announce the successful applications shortly.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 164 projects have been approved for funding of €255m for projects costing over €347m.
The third call for Category 2 applications closed on the 30th July 2021. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls under for Category 1 applications.
My Department received 53 applications to this call. Applications are currently being assessed by my Department under the oversight of the Project Advisory Board, which is comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts. Once that process is complete, my Department will prepare a report setting out recommended projects and my role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding. I expect to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks.
I will be announcing the fourth call for Category 1 projects before the end of 2021. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed.
