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The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Monday August 3rd) announced details of the first €2.8 million in funding approvals from her Department to help rural towns and villages to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding will benefit 106 towns and villages throughout every county in Ireland.
This first tranche of funding announced today under the enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme recognises the need to support rural businesses and communities to rebuild in response to COVID-19.
Practical examples for which the funding will be used include:
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:
"It is vitally important that we increase footfall in rural towns and villages by supporting them to adapt to this ‘new normal’ as a result of COVID-19.
This funding will benefit communities by altering the streetscapes so that people can shop, work and socialise safely.
I have increased the funding for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the €17 million rural package that my Department secured under the July Jobs Stimulus. This means that even more towns and villages will benefit from supports."
Minister Humphreys continued:
"Local Authorities throughout the country have been developing creative and innovative proposals to increase footfall and assist businesses in our rural towns and villages.
This tranche of funding announced today is part of an enhanced €25 million Town and Village Scheme which will continue to rejuvenate rural communities across Ireland.
Further approvals under this hugely popular scheme will follow in a series of funding rounds that will be announced in the coming weeks. I expect that up to 500 towns and villages will be supported this year under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.”
Aside from the enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the July Jobs Stimulus also included a fund of €5 million for upgrading and improving community centres, community facilities and community buildings, as well as an extra €2 million to support the islands.
Full details of the 106 projects supported under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme measure are available on the Gov.ie website.
Town and Village Renewal Scheme (€10 million)
The extra funding of €10 million for towns and villages under the July Stimulus Package is in addition to €15 million already ear-marked for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2020.
The list of the first 106 towns and villages to receive funding under the enhanced measure of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2020 can be found here .
The approved projects will assist businesses/communities in towns and villages to adapt to the specific challenges posed by COVID-19 (e.g. social distancing) and to increase footfall and generate economic activity in the short-term. These projects have been identified by local community groups and businesses, in conjunction with their Local Authorities.
They include projects that adapt outdoor spaces for social gatherings, dining or the hosting of outdoor events; marketing campaigns to entice people back into towns and villages; investment in developing or improving the online presence of towns and villages; local festivals/events; and public realm/infrastructural enhancements to allow for social distancing and to make towns/villages more welcoming.
Improvements to Community Centres (€5m)
The Programme for Government commits to building stronger and safer communities, and as part of this commits to capital grants, administered through Local Authorities, for the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community centres. A grant fund of €5m for immediate investment in community centres and community buildings will be utilised in 2020. The once-off scheme will make use of the existing Community Enhancement Programme structures, with funding decisions at local level by LCDCs.
The funding for community centres is in addition to €2m provided by the Department for the Community Enhancement Programme earlier this year.
The Islands (€2m)
A €2m stimulus for the islands will cover: