Almost half of all applications submitted to the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme have been rejected, according to new information.

The data obtained by Fianna Fáil shows 153 applications out of 309 were denied, contrasting with the 2018 scheme that saw a rejection rate of 23%.

The government has come under pressure to provide clarity on the figures.

Fianna Fáil representative Dara Calleary TD commented: "The government must at once account for the large spike in applications rejected. It is bizarre that we would have such a high rate of rejections.

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"Often applications are done by those familiar with the scheme looking for funding to improve their local area. For whatever reason, half of applications this year were rejected. We need to know why."

Deputy Calleary added: "I also find it very alarming that the Minister has confirmed to me that there is 'no formal appeals system in place for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme'. Rejected applications in villages and towns nationwide need to have full transparency and accountability.

"The Minister must ensure that there is due process in this vital scheme considering communities in rural Ireland invested a lot of time and resources in making detailed applications.

"I am calling on the Minister to outline what changes have clearly happened to the qualifying criteria which has seen so many applications rejected, and for him to instruct his department to allow a full and fair appeals system for this scheme."

(CM/MH)