The Government is to invest over €28 million to regenerate rural towns and villages in Ireland.

The investment is part of the Action Plan for Rural Investment and over 200 towns and villages will benefit from the funding.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, confirmed a variety of schemes will be opened in the coming months to directly benefit rural communities and heritage projects nationwide.

The following schemes will inject funding into rural Ireland throughout 2017:

• €12 million Town and Village Renewal Scheme

• €5 million CLÁR Programme

• €2.8 million built heritage investment schemes

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• €1.3 million Heritage Council schemes

• €7 million in support for rural recreation projects

Minister Humphreys said: "Our towns and villages are the heart of our rural communities, but many of them are still recovering from the economic downturn. By improving the appearance and public amenities in our town and village centres, we can help to make them more attractive places in which to work, to live and to visit.

"I am taking a community-led approach to rural development. My Department will be working very closely with Local Authorities in the coming months to identify projects which will have a positive impact on rural towns and villages. Investing in heritage buildings forms an important element of my plan, because well maintained and actively used historic buildings contribute positively to the vitality of our towns and villages.

"Under the Action Plan, we want to increase the number of visitors to rural areas by 12%. Making our towns and villages more attractive places to visit will be a very important part of that plan and so too is supporting and encouraging rural reaction. That is why my colleague, Michael Ring TD, Minister for Regional Economic Development, will be providing €7 million in support for rural recreation projects in 2017."

(CD)