Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2025
Following on from a recent announcement by Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD, of the launch of the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme please now find documents relating to the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme administered through Community Development in Donegal County Council.
Funded under Project Ireland 2040, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is a key measure directly supporting the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First (TCF) Policy and Our Living Islands. This Scheme which was introduced in 2016, is part of a suite of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland where since 2016, over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The Scheme has made an important contribution to supporting vibrant and sustainable communities in towns and villages throughout Ireland.
The TVRS is administered through Donegal County Council and we will seek to work closely with local communities and businesses to develop place-based proposals.
This 2025 TVRS is designed to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland by focusing on stimulating town centre economic and social regeneration.
This will be achieved through projects which support sustainable employment creation, town centre resilience and regeneration, enhancing our streetscapes, and bringing vacant and derelict buildings and lands back into use as community multi-purpose spaces through refurbishment and renovation and will:
• Drive town centre regeneration;
• Support town/village centre plaza development;
• Develop green spaces / recreational amenities in town or village centres;
• Enhance streetscapes;
• Support town or village centre markets, e.g. farmer’s markets or artisan markets;
• Support the provision of infrastructure (e.g. public realm works, service provisions, canopies etc.) to facilitate town or village centre markets (e.g. farmers markets, open-air markets, local trader markets, artisan markets or similar);
• Upgrade / refurbish community centres;
• Bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use as multi-purpose community spaces;
Access the Town and Village Renewal Scheme Outline 2025 here.
Opening of the Canopy in Ardara – Funded through Town and Village Renewal
Donegal County Council are now seeking Expressions of Interest from Towns and Villages for the Main Scheme and Project Development Measure
Expressions of Interest in respect of Towns and Villages who have not received funding in the past or that have successfully completed projects under previous schemes are also being sought.
All Expressions of Interest will be assessed based on the priorities as contained in the Scheme Outline and must be linked to actions outlined in the County Donegal Development Plan, the Donegal Local and Economic Plan and the Donegal County Council Climate Action Plan where appropriate.
How to Apply
Project Development Measure
The Project Development Measure (PDM) will provide up to €50,000 per project to appoint a consultant to develop a project to s stage of readiness e.g. detailed design, preparation for the planning and/or procurement, appropriate assessments etc. in respect of one single future strategic medium to large scale project.
Note: Up to 2 Expressions of Interest in total under PDM may be selected by the Local Authority for further detailed development with the community and onward submission to the Department and for their informed consideration.
Main Scheme: The Main Scheme is designed to support the revitalisation and resilience of rural Ireland through an ongoing focus on town centre regeneration and enhancing economic and social vibrancy in line with the Town Centre First policy, and will provide funding between €50,000 and €500,000 for capital delivery of a project proposal at a stage of readiness
Note: Up to 4 Expressions of Interest in total under the Main Scheme may be selected by the Local Authority for further detailed development with the community and onward submission to the Department and for their informed consideration.
Please Also Note: Proposals under Building/Land Acquisition Measure are NOT seeking Expressions of Interest.
In the event your community has a larger strategic project proposal you would like to discuss further, please contact Donegal County Council at and we will be available to assist you at this time.
TOWN AND VILLAGE RENEWAL 2025
Main Scheme and Project Development Measure
HOW DO I APPLY?
Closing Date for receipt of Expressions of Interest –
Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2025 – 12noon on Wednesday 21st May 2025
Expressions of Interest received after this deadline will not be considered
Thereafter Expressions of Interest will be assessed based on the scoring framework as contained in the Scheme Outline whereby proposals may be selected for further detailed development in co-operation with local communities which will then be submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development for their further consideration.