Government To Announce €60m Investment To Rejuvenate Rural Communities

The Government will today unveil a €60m plan to rejuvenate rural towns and villages, it has been revealed.

The scheme, set to take place of a three-year period, contains 270 measures aimed at rejuvenating 600 communities.

According to RTÉ, Taoiseach Enda Kenny will outline over 200 measures to kick-start tourism, enterprise and employment initiatives with specific aid for refurbishment of homes.

Sean Canney, Minister for State at Office of Public Works, said:

"There's huge potential in rural Ireland. We need to tap into that and realise it and bring jobs forward.

"It's more than just a €60m investment in rural and regional towns, there's also a pilot scheme to encourage residency/occupation in towns and villages.

"It's also to increase tourism and the creation of 135,000 jobs in rural Ireland by 2020."