Departmental Schemes

Thursday, 26 February 2026

Questions (667, 668)

John Connolly

Question:

667. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when an opportunity might next exist for organisations to apply for funding under the town and village renewal scheme; the categories of schemes which might apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16065/26]

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John Connolly

Question:

668. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the list of projects in County Galway funded under the town and village renewal scheme in 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16066/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 667 and 668 together.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Delivered in partnership with local authorities, it primarily targets funding at areas with populations of less than 10,000 people. Applications for towns with populations of up to 15,000 people are also accepted where the project is of a high quality, displays good value for money and has the potential to significantly benefit the town. Since the launch of the scheme over €210 million has been allocated to over 1,900 projects nationally. Of this more than €8.5 million was allocated to County Galway for 81 projects. I announced the most recent round of funding under the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme in December of last year, where €26.2 million was allocated to 116 projects. Details of all TVRS projects funded can be found on the Department's website. In 2024, County Galway was allocated funding of more than €0.75 million for 3 projects. In 2025, Galway County Council was allocated more than €1.6 million for 7 projects which represented the highest level of funding nationally across local authorities. Details of these projects are included in the table below.The 2025 Scheme had three funding streams for project applications, the Building or Land Acquisition Measure, the Main Scheme and the Project Development Measure. Scheme priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and to respond to changing needs and opportunities. The details of the next iteration of TVRS are currently being developed and I expect to announce details of the scheme later this year.

Year Funding allocated	Scheme	Town or Village	Amount approved	Description of Project	Status
Year Funding allocated	Scheme	Town or Village	Amount approved	Description of Project	Status
2024	Main Scheme	Maree	€250,000	Renovation and refurbishment of Maree Community Centre	Complete
2024	Main Scheme	Gort	€250,000	Enhance the street frontage of the principal buildings both residential and commercial within Gort Town centre.	Complete
2024	Main Scheme	Dunmore	€250,000	Renovation and improved Accessibility of Dunmore Community Centre in partnership with Dunmore Community Council.	Ongoing
2025	Main Scheme	Portumna	€500,000	Restoring Portumna’s Town Hall and Bridewell to safeguard heritage, improve safety, and re-energise these community spaces	Ongoing
2025	Main Scheme	Leitir Moir	€300,000	Enhancing Páirc Pobal Leitir Móir with inclusive play and green spaces	Ongoing
2025	Main Scheme	An Fhairche Clonbur	€300,000	Refurbishment of the community centre	Ongoing
2025	Main Scheme	Killimor	€214,550	Enhancing shopfronts and facades, tackling vacancy, and creating a more attractive, vibrant, and resilient rural community.	Ongoing
2025	Main Scheme	Ahascragh	€250,000	Enhance the street frontage of the principal buildings both residential and commercial within the village.	Ongoing
2025	Project Development Measure	Corofin	€45,572	Design and submission of plans for planning permission; the cost of any additional reports/assessments for the preparation of schedules for procurement prior to tender to enable the project to bid for capital funding.	Ongoing
2025	Project Development Measure	Athenry	€42,750	Detailed design, costings and preparation of planning and detailed costs for the refurbishment of an underused parochial hall in the centre of the town	Ongoing

Question No. 668 answered with Question No. 667.

Question No. 669 answered with Question No. 666.

Question No. 670 answered with Question No. 665.