Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
3519. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he has any plans to provide smaller streams of funding to towns and villages for small scale street enhancement, streetscape, schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26143/26]
View answerIn line with the policy commitments set out in Our Rural Future and Town Centre First, my Department implements a range of capital investment schemes which support the regeneration of our rural towns and villages. This includes funding opportunities for streetscape enhancement works and bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into community use. The schemes funded by my Department, and most relevant to the Deputy's particular request. are set out below.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of several 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 though towns with populations of up to 15,000 are eligible where the application is of high quality, cost-effective and would provide significant local benefits. TVRS supports a range of projects which can include the upgrade and enhancement of streetscapes, and the development of town centre plazas and public realm works. TVRS is administered through the local authorities and funding ranges from €50,000 to €500,000. The details of the next iteration of TVRS are currently being developed and I expect to announce details of the scheme later this year.
The current LEADER programme covers the period from 2023 to 2027. It provides support to rural communities under a broad range of themes, including Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, and has for many years supported the improvement of rural towns and villages by funding capital infrastructure such as community centres and playgrounds, and by funding feasibility studies, community development plans and smart village strategies. Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their Local Action Group, through its Implementing Partner to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available.
The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP), previously the Community Enhancement Programme, supports a wide variety of small capital projects and, depending on the nature of the project, small scale street enhancements may be approved for funding. In general, support under the LEP is available to, for example, Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds. The LCDCs are responsible for assessing the applications and proposing which ones should be funded. €7 million was provided under the LEP 2026 to provide funding for small capital works projects.
Also administered by my Department is the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). The RRDF is a major capital investment programme which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. Projects funded under the RRDF include public realm projects in our towns and villages that fundamentally contribute to the strategic development of the town or village. RRDF funding is allocated to local authorities and other state-funded bodies, who take the lead role in individual projects. I was delighted to recently open the 6th Call for Category 1 RRDF proposals. Proposals under this Call are for large-scale strategic projects that are ready to commence and have all necessary planning and consents in place. Full details are available on my department’s website.
