Govt announces €27m funding to combat dereliction in Irish towns and villages

Over €27million in funding to combat dereliction in Irish towns and villages has been announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development.

Minister Heather Humphreys today (December 14) announced the funding, which marks the largest ever investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and will see a range of landmark projects delivered across rural Ireland. 

The package comprises four strands including €17million investment in 75 town and village projects, €6million to purchase and re-develop vacant and derelict buildings to convert them into community facilities, €2.6million to upgrade shopfronts and building facades in 26 towns, and €1.56million for planning and design works. 

Announcing the news, the minister said, "I am delighted to announce a record €27 million in funding under my Department’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This is all about tackling the scourge of vacancy and dereliction in our rural towns and villages.

"It’s about taking old buildings and giving them a new lease of life. And it’s about rejuvenating the centre of our towns by developing public plazas, town parks, community gardens and sports facilities for the benefit of local families. This investment today will breathe new life into rural towns and villages across every single county. It’s the largest ever investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and demonstrates my passion and ambition for our rural communities.” 

Significant projects include €405,000 for a skate and recreational park in Longford Town, Co Longford, €500,000 for the restoration and development of the historic Duncannon Fort in Co Wexford, and over €435,000 for a community venue and town centre tourist kiosk in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, 

Five hundred thousand euro will go towards public realm improvements in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow for the enhancement of the River Barrow, while €360,000 will be used to provide an access promenade and viewing area across the River Shannon in Ballina, Co Tipperary. 

Minister Humphreys continued: "We are all familiar with that old building in the community that has acted as an eyesore for far too long. This particular initiative, the Building Acquisition Measure, is about providing our local authorities with the necessary resources to tackle the scourge of vacancy and dereliction.

"This funding will see former garda stations, convents, old cinemas and banks taken into public ownership and converted for the good of the local community. This scheme goes to the heart of our rural development policy ‘Our Rural Future’ – breathing new life into towns and villages and making them better places to live, work and raise a family.” 

She concluded: "Today I am giving the green light for works to commence in the 26 towns selected under the Streetscapes Enhancement Initiative. From Bagenalstown to Ballinlough, this initiative will provide retailers and property owners with grants that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies.

"This is a new initiative that I introduced as part of Our Rural Future. The response has been hugely positive to date and I look forward to seeing works commence in these 26 towns. Finally I am delighted to sanction €1.56 million for pre-development work on 33 projects to help with the costs of developing these applications so that they are shovel ready for future funding calls.” 

A feasibility study to determine the potential future uses of the vacant/derelict former old boys school in Ballyroan village, Co Laois will cost €50,000, while the same amount will deliver a detailed architect-led design proposal and planning permission for the refurbishment of a derelict property in Moneygall, Co Offaly into a multi-purpose community space/hub. 

A full list of greenlit projects is available to view here.