A funding allocation of €590,066 will support refurbishment and development projects in Cork County which will help to revitalise rural towns and villages.
North Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea was speaking following Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys’ announcement of a further €20 million for rural towns and villages nationwide through The Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Cllr. O’Shea said: “Through this scheme, funding is being allocated to deliver 82 projects right across Ireland, for works including the regeneration of derelict buildings, the provision of public plazas and farmers markets in town centres, in addition to the development of town parks.
“I am particularly pleased that funding of €117,000 is being approved for a project in Millstreet in North Cork which is for the purchase of a vacant property in West End which is to be transformed into a community space. This positive investment is being provided under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is a key objective of the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First Policies. These schemes highlight Fine Gael’s continued commitment to delivering for Rural Ireland”.
Cllr. O’Shea added “As a party we understand that Cork communities are the backbone of our country, and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme puts their wellbeing at the heart of this funding. The proposals have come from the local communities themselves and the result is that we now have funding for projects for the betterment of our wonderful county.
“I know businesses and communities here in Cork have worked hard to develop ideas with Cork County Council and there is no doubt they will have a positive and sustainable impact locally.
“A key part of this funding is that it is helps to bring back into use vacant and derelict buildings, which are characteristic of many Irish rural towns. These once loved spaces can be of benefit once again to people as Community Halls and Youth Centres. I think we all very much look forward to seeing these projects being delivered and the undoubted positive impact they will have on Cork,” concluded Cllr. O’Shea.
Minister Heather Humphreys said: “There are more people living in rural Ireland than ever before. There are more people working in rural Ireland than ever before and there is more investment going into rural Ireland than ever before.
“These projects are all about making our rural towns and villages great places to live, work and raise a family. I want to thank the local communities who brought forward these proposals and I look forward to seeing work commence on many of these exciting projects in the near future.”
Additional Info:
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
Its focus is on strengthening community resilience and social cohesion, supporting communities so that they are empowered to face current and future challenges.
Town and Village Renewal Scheme
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is prioritising the revitalisation of rural Ireland through a renewed focus on town centre economic and social recovery and regeneration. This will be achieved through projects focusing on town centre regeneration, enhancing our streetscapes and bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use. Other projects which will be welcomed include regeneration projects that support active and vibrant town or village centres, town centre parks, green spaces and community amenities, etc.
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.
Under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme applications are permitted as follows:
- 4 applications of between €20,000 and €250,000
- 1 application of between €20,000 and €500,000
- 1 additional application up to €250,000 was accepted from those local authorities with inhabited offshore islands for projects on the islands.
Our Rural Future
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland.
The policy’s objectives will be achieved through the delivery of 161 measures, to be implemented progressively over the life of the policy across a range of government departments and agencies. Annual work programmes enable new actions to be added over the policy’s lifecycle, to respond to the emerging needs of rural communities.
Town Centre First
A joint initiative of DRCD and DHLGH, the Town Centre First policy 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 at a local level.
The policy also contains a range of actions designed to achieve key objectives such as social and economic revival in towns, the provision of housing, as well as addressing challenges like vacancy and derelict buildings. The actions also support the protection of our environment, as well as the heritage and culture of our towns.
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