Cork County Council Invites Proposals for the 2026 Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Cork County Council is inviting Expressions of Interest for projects that will make the county’s towns and villages more attractive and sustainable. The closing date for forms is 5pm on Friday, 13 November 2026.

Funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is designed to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. It has a strong focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction, increasing footfall into town centres, and supporting vibrant and sustainable Gaeltacht and island communities.

In recent years, the scheme has supported a wide range of projects across Cork County. These include the acquisition and redevelopment of community facilities, public realm improvements, playground enhancements, walking trail improvements and the regeneration of vacant buildings.

Cllr. Bernard Moynihan, Mayor of the County of Cork:

“The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides an important opportunity for communities across County Cork to bring forward projects that will enhance their towns and villages and make them even better places to live, work and visit.

Local communities know their areas best, and this scheme enables them to work with Cork County Council to deliver projects that will have a positive and lasting impact. I would encourage communities across the county to explore the opportunities available and bring forward their ideas.”

Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Cork County Council:

“Supporting vibrant, resilient and sustainable communities remains a key priority for Cork County Council. Through investment in community infrastructure, public realm enhancements, recreational amenities and the renewal of vacant and underutilised properties, we are helping to create places that are attractive, inclusive and sustainable.

Working in close collaboration with the Department of Rural and Community Development, local communities and elected members, we look forward to delivering projects that will bring lasting social and economic benefits to towns and villages across County Cork.”

The scheme is open to towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000. Towns with a population of up to 15,000 may be considered where a high-quality application is received.

Grant funding for projects will range from €50,000 to €500,000 under the main scheme. Funding of up to €50,000 per project is also available for pre-development costs, to help communities develop applications for future funding calls.

The 2026 Scheme outline and the Expression of Interest forms are available on Cork County Council’s website, corkcoco.ie.