COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, May 12, 2025
QUESTION NO. 15
QUESTION: Councillor J. Sinnott
To ask the Chief Executive to advise if South Dublin County Council will be supporting or making an application under the national 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is specifically aimed at tackling vacancy and dereliction, supporting pre-development project costs for future applications, and acquiring vacant or derelict buildings, or lands for regeneration (up to €500,000 per local authority)?
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council is considering an application under Town & Village Renewal Scheme 2025; including the recent issue for Expressions of Interest from community groups, business and local stakeholders in accordance with the requirements of the scheme.
Funding is provided through the Department of Rural and Community Development for the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The scheme 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. Eligible towns in South Dublin are Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas.
The Town & Village Renewal Scheme 2025 is now open for Expressions of Interest from community groups, business and local stakeholders to put forward project ideas under both the Main Scheme and Project Development Measure that 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
The 2025 scheme is targeted at three categories of towns/villages as follows and based on Census 2022 data:
- Category 1: Towns and villages with a population of up to 5,000 people.
- Category 2: Towns with a population of 5,001 to 10,000 people.
- Category 3: Larger towns with a population of up to 15,000 people may be eligible where the application is of a high quality and outlines a strong need for the investment, good value for money and positive outcomes that will have a substantial impact on the town.
The central focus of the scheme will be on Category 1 towns and villages which will receive at least 60% of the overall funding available.
Note: Population of qualifying towns in South Dublin Administrative Area
- Rathcoole – 5,792
- Newcastle – 4,526
- Saggart – 4,573
- Brittas – 166
Funding options:
- Main Scheme: For large-scale projects that will deliver tangible, long-term benefits – grant funding for projects will range from €50,000 to €500,000.
- Project Development Measure: For early-stage projects requiring feasibility studies, design work, planning to establish well-developed regeneration projects which might subsequently progress to construction stage, subject to the availability of funding – grant funding of up to €50,000 available.
Up to 90% of the total cost of a project under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme may be provided for any individual project.
Expressions of Interest:
South Dublin County Council will assess Expressions of Interest received and select proposals for development into detailed applications to be submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development. Completed Expression of Interest forms are to be submitted by email to tvrs@sdublincoco.ie or by post to Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Public Realm, Environment Water and Climate Change Department, South Dublin Co. Co., County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest is Friday 23rd May 2025.