DONEGAL is to benefit
from a new €30m village and town renewal scheme
announced today, Minister of State with Special
Responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs Joe McHugh has
said.
“Fine Gael is keenly aware of the impact the
economic downturn has had on towns and villages
throughout Ireland and this year we launched the
Standing Up for Rural Ireland campaign where
backbench TDs came together to work to advocate on
behalf of rural communities to ensure that the
economic recovery spreads to all parts of Ireland,"
he said.
“The Village and Town Renewal Scheme will support
the revitalisation of towns/villages, making them
better places to live and to work, and increasing
their potential to support growing economic
activity."
The new scheme proposed will run over six years and
the €30m will be channelled through local
authorities throughout the country with oversight by
the Local Community Development Committees. Minister
McHugh said he expected people would see a positive
impact from the scheme in Donegal.
“Other parties talk up the demise of rural Ireland.
Fine Gael doesn’t buy into this. Rural Ireland is
alive, but it needs support and through the Village
and Town Renewal Scheme we can promote rural
Ireland.
“In order to take advantage of this scheme we are
dependent on local stakeholders in Donegal to come
together and to decide which projects should be
selected to apply for this funding. €30 million is a
lot of money and can make a huge difference to rural
Ireland and to our towns and villages here in
Donegal," he added. |