The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland under the Department of Rural & Community Development’s “Rural Development Investment Programme”. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040.
In 2020, the Rural Development Investment Programme, including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, is being tailored to address the emerging challenges associated with COVID19. For the Town & Village Renewal Scheme this means:
A focus under the standard Town and Village Renewal Scheme on interventions that can respond to the new challenges associated with COVID-19 and support the economic and social recovery of our rural towns and villages;
The introduction of a new strand of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2020 that focuses on immediate interventions that can be delivered in the short-term to assist towns and villages to adapt to COVID-19.
2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme
The 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme will operate on the same basis as has been delivered in recent years, albeit with a particular focus on projects delivering an economic dividend and enabling towns and villages to respond to COVID-19 challenges. The scheme will also continue to support public-realm type activities and the enhancement of town centre amenities, particularly where this aids the economic and/or social recovery of a town or village.
All projects must be in a position to commence as soon as approval is granted and must be capable of being delivered in a realistic timeframe i.e. within a 12 to 18 month period. Where possible, it is advisable that any relevant planning permissions, surveys or studies are in place prior to the submission of an application so as to ensure that there is no delay in th commencement of the project.
https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/01125e-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/