This 2026 TVRS 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. Whilst the focus will remain on rural towns and villages, this 2026 Scheme will operate a pilot urban town initiative. This will support those local authority areas which have towns and villages within larger urban and metropolitan areas
The Town & Village Renewal Scheme 2026 is now open for Expressions of Interest under both the Main Scheme and Project Development Measure. This funding programme supports projects that enhance rural communities, boost economic activity, improve local infrastructure, enhance public spaces and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
Proposals will be made available for projects which can be submitted under two headings:
1) The Main Scheme where grant funding for projects will range from €50,000 to €500,000;
2) Applications made under the Project Development Measure with funding of up to €50,000 available per project
If you have a project Carlow County Council wants to hear from you!
Up to 90% of the total cost of a project under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme may be provided for any individual project.
Communities should also demonstrate if they have fund raised and have match funding in place along with planning permission where applicable.
Funding Options
- Main Scheme
The 2026 TVRS ‘Main Scheme’ is designed to support the revitalisation and resilience of rural Ireland through an ongoing focus on town centre regeneration and enhancing economic and social vibrancy in line with the Town Centre First policy.
This will be achieved through projects which:
- drive town centre regeneration;
- support town/village centre plaza development;
- develop green spaces / recreational amenities in town or village centres;
- include an emphasis on climate action elements;
- enhance streetscapes;
- 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.
Under the Main Scheme of the 2026 Town and Village Renewal Scheme;
- The minimum grant made available will be €50,000.
- The maximum level of grant available under the 2026 Scheme is €500,000 in respect of one application from each local authority.
- A funding ceiling of €300,000 will apply in respect of a maximum of a further 3 applications per local authority
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Only one application can be submitted in respect of any individual town/village, including towns that may be under the remit of more than one local authority.
- Project Development Measure
The Project Development Measure (PDM) will provide up to €50,000 per project. The purpose of the PDM is to assist local authorities to establish a pipeline of significant, well-developed projects which could subsequently be quickly and efficiently progressed to construction stage, subject to the availability of further funding.
Categories of Towns
There are four categories of towns/villages under the 2026 scheme as outlined below which should be assessed by local authorities using Census 2022 data. The 2026 scheme funding will be primarily targeted at Category 1 and 2 towns and villages though local authorities may also opt to submit applications for larger towns.
Category 1: Towns and villages (A village is defined as a small settlement of houses, smaller in size than a town, clustered around at least one central point of interest such as a school, church, shop, pub, community centre etc.) 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.
Category 4: Pilot ‘Urban Towns’: 2026 TVRS Pilot for Larger Urban Towns
The focus of 2026 TVRS will remain on smaller towns and villages. However, to support the community infrastructure needs in those local authority areas which have towns and villages within larger urban areas, (the pilot will include and be available to all city and metropolitan areas), the 2026 Scheme will operate a pilot urban town initiative. This will facilitate applications for project proposals which are clearly centrally located within the boundaries of traditional town and village centres in such urban areas even where the population of the wider urban area may exceed those accommodated in Categories 1 to 3 above. This pilot initiative is targeted at traditional urban towns and villages located within our urban and metropolitan areas.
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 under this Call
Timeframe for project delivery
- Projects approved for funding of up to €300,000 must be capable of being delivered in an 18-month timeframe
- In respect of projects approved for funding over €300,000 an extended completion timeframe of 24 months is in place. This is in order to recognise the complexity of delivery of larger-scale projects.
How to express an interest?
Carlow County Council invites Expressions of Interest for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2026.
Expressions of Interest must be submitted directly to Carlow County Council.
Carlow County Council will assess the Expressions of Interest received and select proposals for development into detailed applications to be submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
Completed Expression of Interest forms must be completed in word version only please (no PDFs) and should be submitted by email to tcf@carlowcoco.ie or by post to Town Regeneration Office, Carlow County Council, Athy Road, Carlow. R93 E7R7.
Please submit your completed Expression of Interest form by 5.00 p.m. on Friday the 13th of November 2026
For queries relating to the scheme, please email tcf@carlowcoco.ie
Please ensure that you have read the Scheme Outline and fully complete the Expression of Interest form before submitting.
Expressions of Interest received after the closing date will not be considered.
Further information, including the Scheme Outline and Expression of Interest form can be downloaded below: