Press release
Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys launches 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has today (Friday 21 July) launched the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme – a €15 million Fund designed to revitalise and regenerate our rural towns and villages.
The Fund will support dozens of projects nationwide with a focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction and bringing additional footfall into the centre of our towns.
Grants will be made available to support the development of outdoor projects such as plazas, parks, playgrounds and green spaces.
Under the initiative, funding will be provided to local authorities to acquire land for regeneration purposes.
Farmer and artisan markets will be supported under the scheme and there will also be funding ring-fenced for projects on our offshore island communities.
Launching the 2023 Scheme, Minister Humphreys said:
“I’m really pleased today to launch the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme which will see €15 million invested to develop dozens of projects right across the country. To date, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has had a hugely positive impact in rural communities in every single county. It has supported the regeneration and repopulation of our towns and villages – making them better places to live, work, invest and raise a family. This year, there will be a particular focus on tackling issues such as vacancy and dereliction and supporting projects that will bring additional footfall into our town centres. I am also keen to support outdoor projects such as new plazas, parks, playgrounds and green spaces. And there will funding available for towns and villages that wish to develop their own farmer or artisan markets which are extremely popular amenities for families and visitors alike. I am also pleased to announce that funding will be ring-fenced to support projects in our island communities.”
Priority will be afforded to projects that align with the objectives of Our Rural Future, Town Centre First and Our Living Islands with a focus on:
The Minister continued:
“’Our Rural Future’, the government’s ambitious policy for rural development, is very much focussed on supporting the regeneration of our rural towns and villages. Additionally, the Town Centre First Policy is a cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. This year’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been closely aligned with these two policies – and it will directly support our towns to be more attractive and economically and socially vibrant. I am strongly encouraging local authorities to work closely with communities to put forward projects that are ambitious and will make a positive difference.”
Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, over €154 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects. The Scheme has made an important contribution to supporting vibrant and sustainable communities in towns and villages throughout Ireland.
The scheme is administered through the local authorities, who are required to work closely with local communities and local businesses to develop and implement proposals.
The Scheme typically funds rural towns and villages with a population of up to 10,000 people. Larger rural towns with a population of up to 15,000 people may be eligible where the application is particularly strong and the project will have a significant impact on the town in question.
The Minister concluded:
“There are still some small towns and villages that have not yet benefited from the Scheme, so I would encourage all of these towns and villages, in particular, to consider applying for funding under the 2023 Scheme. This funding represents a real opportunity for communities to access investment in their own towns and villages, and continues to support the delivery of the government’s ambition for rural Ireland as set out in ‘Our Rural Future’. I look forward to receiving high quality proposals from communities across rural Ireland in the coming months.”
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for projects that make our towns and villages more attractive and sustainable.
The scheme is administered through the Local Authorities, who are required to work closely with local communities and local businesses to develop and implement proposals that can make a lasting impact in revitalising rural towns and villages across the country. Applications for funding are submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Local Authorities.
The closing date for the submission of applications under the scheme is 10 November 2023.
Each Local Authority is invited to submit applications of varying scale under the 2023 Scheme as follows:
i. 4 applications - funding €20,000 to €250,000
ii. 1 application - funding €20,000 to €500,000
Where a county has an inhabited offshore island, one additional application for up to €250,000 may be submitted.
Types of activities that may be supported under the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme include:
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It offers a blueprint for a thriving and inclusive rural Irelands and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
Town Centre First contains 33 unique actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, visit and run a business. Town Regeneration Officers in all relevant Local Authority areas are being funded by DRCD to drive forward Town Centre First on a local level.