Some of the money will be used to turn vacant properties into remote working hubs.
The Government has announced it will set aside €15 million in funding to help revitalise rural towns and villages after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement on Monday, the Government said The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is “designed to breathe new life into rural communities – making them more attractive places to live, work, socialise and raise a family”.
The initiative is a key part of its already announced Our Rural Future plan, which sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years.
The measures that will be supported by the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme include:
- Tackling dereliction in town centres,
- Turning vacant properties into remote working and community spaces,
- Supporting local authorities to run innovative marketing campaigns targeted at attracting remote workers to their county,
- Investing in green spaces, parks and recreational amenities,
- Upgrading and improving shop fronts and streetscapes on main streets,
- Projects that support and enhance the night-time economy and add vibrancy to town centres.
Launching the scheme, Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys said: “As part of the €15 million fund I am announcing today, I want to see innovative and exciting projects coming forward that will make a real and lasting difference in our rural towns and villages.”
“The focus of this year’s scheme is to renovate derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres and give them a new purpose – whether it is for remote working, cultural or community use. I have increased the maximum grant to €500,000 this year so that projects of scale and ambition can be put forward.”
The Minister also said the aim is for rural towns and villages to be showcased in order to attract remote workers and “digital nomads” to the areas.
For more information about the fund, see here.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
