McHugh announces Towns and villages in Donegal set to benefit from €1.15M funding

GOVERNMENT Chief Whip Joe McHugh has announced that 13 Donegal projects are to receive €1.15M under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

The funding will see funding to digital hubs in Kilcar, Carrigart/Downings and on Arranmore Island as well as ehancement schemes in Newtowncunningham, Falcarragh, Convoy, Ballyliffin, Burtonport, , Churchill, Dunkineely, Mountcharles, Rathmullan and St Johnston.

The funding to Donegal was the third highest in the country; and three times the funding under the same

“The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is an important part of Fine Gael’s work to rejuvenate and revitalise rural Ireland and should have a significant impact on towns and villages across the county,” said Minister McHugh.

“Here in Donegal we have placed a particular emphasis this year on projects which have the capacity to support the economic development of rural town and villages as well as their neighbouring townlands.

“The scheme will also support improvements to public amenities in our town and village centres, to help make them more attractive places in which to live and work and to visit.

“Thanks to Minister Michael Ring today, we will see digital hubs developed on Arranmore, in Carrigart and Kilcar. Elsewhere imaginative projects around health, well-being, tourism and other projects will enhance villages and towns like Convoy, Rathmullan and Churchill.

“I want to thank the Donegal County Council for their efforts and co-operation in engaging with local and business communities to identify these projects. Most of the funding will benefit towns and villages, with populations of less than 5,000 people.”

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD, said: “Following on from the success of the 2016 scheme, I am delighted to be able to allocate €21.6 million for projects in 281 towns and villages right across rural Ireland.

“This allocation more than doubles the €10 million allocated to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme last year. This is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to making rural Ireland a more vibrant and sustainable place to live. This funding will be put to good use over the coming twelve months for the benefit of the people who live in rural Ireland.”

The allocation of €21 million by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Town and Village Renewal scheme follows the roll out earlier this year of a range of other initiatives to support rural Ireland, including the CLÁR scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure scheme and the Local Improvement Scheme.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

The Town and Village Renewal scheme is an initiative under the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, Realising our Rural Potential, and is part of a suite of national and local support measures to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. It is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and is administered by the Local Authorities.

The delivery of an enhanced Town and Village Scheme was a commitment in the Programme for A Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development. Under the 2017 scheme, up to 80% of the total cost for each approved project will be provided by the Department, with the remaining 20% being provided either through community contribution and/or the Local Authority.

Under the 2017 scheme a wide variety of projects have been approved.  These projects have been identified by local community groups and businesses, in conjunction with their Local Authorities.  Projects approved range from employment initiatives to tourism amenities, and other measures aimed to help make small towns and villages a more attractive and more sustainable places in which to live and work.