Minister Humphreys launches 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Minister Humphreys launches 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme
Focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction and bringing additional footfall into town centres

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD 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.”

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.”

All interested community groups in Longford who wish to submit an Expression of Interest should email their completed forms and details to regen@longfordcoco.ie no later than Monday 11th September 2023. More information including the Expression of Interest Form is available on on the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2023 page.

Applications

Types of activities that may be supported under the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme include:

  • Regeneration projects that assist in revitalising our rural towns and villages, in line with the Town Centre First Policy, through planned and sustainable regeneration and development projects that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, address vacancy and dereliction and ensure the re-use of heritage and other existing buildings
  • There is a new option introduced under the 2023 Scheme for the acquisition of land in town centres which supports local authorities for the development of town regeneration / community focused projects
  • Renovation or refurbishment to existing community centres
  • Projects to support vibrant and sustainable island communities on Ireland’s inhabited offshore islands.
  • Projects to support the establishment of town or village centre markets
  • Projects to develop town / village centre plazas, public outdoor dining spaces, parks, green spaces (including allotments and community gardens) and recreational spaces/amenities in town centres to make them vibrant hubs for community enjoyment, and to increase footfall for local businesses.
  • Projects to support the upgrade and enhancement of shopfronts and street facades (including murals) in towns and villages.
  • Projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces.
  • Projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as Remote Working Hubs, where there is a demonstrable local need.
  • Enhancement of heritage assets (e.g. local museums/tourism attractions focused on historical aspects of the area, heritage sites/buildings, etc.) located in towns and villages, including energy efficiency measures.