Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Seán Kyne, has said the new Framework for Town Centre Renewal will help guide improvement plans for towns and villages across Galway.
Deputy Kyne explained that the framework was a step by step action plan for stakeholders including residents, local businesses, and community organisations to work together to apply for funding from initiatives such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Deputy Kyne said; “The town and village scheme for 2017 was launched earlier this month by my Department and will see a national investment of €20 million to fund enhancement and renewal projects.
“The framework for town centre renewal involves three steps. The first is stakeholder engagement whereby a town or village’s strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities are identified. The second step involves the creation of a town team with all stakeholders represented, while the third step is the preparation and implementation of a town centre plan that sets out the vision for the town or village, lists the actions needed, and assigns responsibilities.
“This framework, which was launched this week by my colleague Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, provides a really useful guide for planning and directing projects that will enhance and revitalise our towns and villages in Galway.
“It is structured in an inclusive way that involves all stakeholders and it recognises that local people and communities know best the projects that will improve and renew their town and village centres.
“I know that some Galway towns and villages already have community action plans but I believe this framework will help encourage more towns and villages to plan and will help all towns and villages with applications for funding from Government departments and State agencies.”
