The Government has today, 15 January, announced over €4.5 million of funding to tackle dereliction and vacancy in Rural Ireland.

The investment will be implemented through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and

will see 24 old and derelict buildings repurposed for 21st century community use.

The projects that will be revamped include Former Garda Stations, Schools, Post Offices, Parish Halls, Restaurants, Public Houses and Vacant Sites.

The announcement represents the second year of investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme's Building Acquisition Measure, which is designed to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use in our town and village centres.

Local authorities have been allocated funding to purchase and re-develop 24 vacant and derelict buildings in rural towns and villages across Ireland.

These buildings will then be developed for a range of community purposes.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD said: "I am delighted to announce the details of this €4.5 million investment under my Department's Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This initiative is all about giving our local communities the tools to address the challenges of vacancy and dereliction in their towns and villages. Through this funding, we are taking those run-down buildings and turning them into facilities that will benefit communities for generations to come.

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"By doing so, we will help to drive footfall into our town centres, increase tourism and, above all, make our rural towns and villages even better places to live, work, invest, visit and raise a family. This scheme is underpinned by ‘Our Rural Future’ – our five year rural development policy, which has changed Rural Ireland for the better. I am very pleased with the range of buildings which we have been able to support under this initiative, and I look forward to these buildings being developed for community use in the coming months.

"The announcement today shows the real impact that 'Our Rural Future' is having across the country. We’ve never experienced more exciting things happening in Rural Ireland than we are today. We will continue to work with local communities to ensure that our rural towns and villages continue to be vibrant places to live and work, with people of all ages – young and old – seeing and realising the benefits."

Among the 24 projects to be funded under the €4.5 million Building Acquisition Measure are:

• Ballyroan, Co. Laois: A former national school to be used as a multi-purpose community venue

• Bellacorrick, Co. Mayo: A former garda barracks for use as a multi-purpose community hub, community gym and remote working hub

• Enfield, Co. Meath: A former parish hall for use as a multipurpose community space

• St Margaret's, Fingal: A former Parochial Hall, Parochial House and Coach House to be converted into multi-purpose community space

• Villierstown, Co. Waterford: A site with derelict buildings - to regenerate the derelict buildings into a modern permanent structure including a boathouse, camping site, additional parking facilities, multi-purpose community space

• Belturbet, Co. Cavan: A former bakery for conversion into a multi-purpose community facility

• Gorey, Co. Wexford: A former Credit Union being developed for 21st Century Use

• Leitrim Village, Co. Leitrim: Purchase of a two storey semi-detached house to create a Blueway Hub

• Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary: Redevelopment of a three-storey former public house and fast foot outlet to convert into a multi-purpose community space.