today-is-a-good-day
Advertisement
Advertisement

-

Town and village renewal scheme 2018 announced

The Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council is inviting expressions of interest from new and established business and community groups across Clare in relation to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2018, an initiative under the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development ‘Realising our Rural Potential’.

- Advertisement -

Funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the primary aim of the €15m scheme is to enhance and develop towns and villages socially, economically and culturally.

Up to 200 towns and villages across Ireland will benefit from funding under the Scheme, which will be made available locally through Clare County Council to support rural regeneration.

“I warmly welcome the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2018 which will provide support to rural counties such as Clare,” said Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tom McNamara.

Mayor McNamara added that the scheme will enable local business and community groups to fund projects that can support rural regeneration and help to boost economic activity in Clare’s towns and villages.

Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, commented, “This funding supports the work of Clare Rural Development Forum in delivering on its Strategy for Rural Clare. Full involvement by community interests and business interests will be an essential feature of successful projects in 2018.”

According to Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, “All expressions of interest received during the coming weeks will be assessed by Clare County Council following which up to 12 eligible projects can be selected and submitted to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for final project selection in July.  Successful projects will be expected to commence by year end and be completed by the end of 2019.”

Dr. Michael Harty TD has welcomed the move by the Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council to invite expressions of interest from new and established business and community groups across Clare in relation to Town and Village renewal scheme for 2018.

“The Town & Village Renewal Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development. This Plan follows a strong commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government to develop a new and improved Town and Village Renewal Scheme. I am pleased to say I was on the negotiating team which ensured this commitment to rural Ireland.  As part of this scheme the Government promised to commit addition funding to support the development of rural towns and villages, as a key priority for revitalising rural Ireland,” said Dr. Harty

“€15 million is now available this year to assist up to 200 towns and villages across Ireland. The scheme will be administered locally through Clare County Council to support rural regeneration. Over the last two years, over €30 million was awarded to over 450 projects the length and breadth of Ireland. Last year nine projects across Clare received funding totalling just under €1 million.  This year’s scheme will focus on measures which have a clear economic impact on rural towns and villages, to make them vibrant, welcoming centres for people to live and work in and meet at a social level,” he added.

An expression of interest form and scheme guidelines are available at www.clarecoco.ie/community/grants. The closing date for submission of Expression of Interest Application forms under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is Friday, 1 June 2018. Further information on the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2018 is available on www.clarecoco.ie or from the Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council on 065 6821616.

 

- Advertisement -

Recent Posts

- Advertisement -
Advertisement
Advertisement