Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2022
463. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to the town and village renewal scheme since 2016, by year; the amount returned to her Department by local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) 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”. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €113 million has been approved for more than 1,400 projects across the country.
In May I launched the 2022 Scheme and this year's Scheme will place particular emphasis on projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces. The scheme will also prioritise regeneration of town centres, parks and green spaces, and remote working. The Scheme will support these objectives and will encourage more people to return confidently to town and village centres to work, shop and socialise. The closing date for the submission of applications is 22nd July 2022.
Under the TVRS, approved projects are funded by each local authority from their own resources. The local authorities then submit claims to the Department to recoup these funds. In general, funding would be returned to the Department where ineligible funding is identified through project control inspections or where projects are decommitted. The data on returned funding is currently being compiled and will issue to the Deputy once completed.
The table at the link outlines the funding approved per local authority under the TVRS for each year since the Scheme was introduced in 2016.
