Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys has said the Town and Village Renewal Scheme would focus on smaller towns this year.
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys
Minister Humphreys was in Clones, Co Monaghan, this Tuesday to launch this year’s Rural Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which allocates €380,000 to each of the 26 counties for projects in up to eight towns or villages with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.
“I have more than doubled the allocation for the scheme from €4m to €10m, reflecting the Government’s commitment to the development of rural Ireland,” Minister Humphreys said. “Up to 200 towns and villages right across the country will benefit from the scheme this year.”
Focus on smaller towns
New rules specify that more than half of project proposals and funding value within each county must go to towns and villages of fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
Projects eligible to the scheme include those that improve the commercial, cultural, social or environmental attractiveness of a town or village, or tackle “minor physical infrastructural deficits and land assembly issues”, ie lack of large enough sites to develop public amenities.
It is critical that towns and villages become areas where economic activity can flourish, where people can live and work
Each project can receive up to €100,000 covering a maximum of 85% of costs and Minister Humphreys’ department will issue details to local authorities in the coming days to allow them to apply for the grants in September.
“It is critical that towns and villages become areas where economic activity can flourish, where people can live and work, and where people can meet at a social level,” Minister Humphreys said.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – Thomas Hubert – 09/08/2016)
MEP calls on community to take opportunity to improve Donegal towns and villages
Ardara
MEP for Donegal, Mairéad McGuinness, has called on the community to avail of the opportunity to improve Donegal towns and villages.
The opportunity has come about thanks to the Rural Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which will see €10 million allocated before the end of the year and €380,000 available in each county.
Speaking at the launch on Monday (08/08/2016) in Clones, Co. Monaghan by Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, McGuinness said it is a good opportunity for those who have projects and ideas ready to action to put in their applications by September.
Speaking on the launch, she said, “This funding scheme is due for distribution by the end of the year so those with projects already in mind will be in pole position to benefit.
“There will be further tranches coming down the line during 2017 and beyond. This part of the scheme will assist those with initiatives to help regenerate their towns and villages and give a boost to those working to bring vibrancy and economic recovery back into communities.”
The money will be administered through Local Authorities who will partner with local communities and local businesses to develop and implement ideas that can make a real and lasting impact. A particular focus will be placed on supporting towns with populations of less than 5,000. A smaller number of projects can be supported in each county for towns with a population of up to 10,000.
Funding will be allocated to meet up to 85% of the total cost of each project. Each county can apply for up to 8 separate town/village projects and submit outline plans to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in September for approval.
Funding will be released to Local Authorities once projects are approved by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The maximum grant for any single project is €100,000.
Measures taken under the scheme should have a sustainable and visible impact on the town/village. The type of projects to be funded could include:
* Increasing the attractiveness of the town or village as a local commercial and social centre, and increase its sustainability as a place in which to live and work
* Enhancing its environment and amenity in the interests of residents, businesses and visitors;
* Enhancing the culture and local heritage assets of the town/village and promote tourism;
* Tackling minor physical infrastructural deficits and land assembly issues.
Full details of the scheme will be made available to Local Authorities in the coming days.
(Source – Donegal Now – 09/08/2016)