A funding package worth over €18.3 million has been announced by government aiming to tackle dereliction in rural towns and villages.

The Department of Rural and Community Development said that former banks, garda stations, train stations and convents will be "regenerated for community use".

There is also a strong emphasis on projects focused on developing remote working facilities.

The funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of the Our Rural Future policy.

Since the introduction of the scheme in 2016, almost €94million has been approved for more than 1,300 projects across the country. It is administered by local authorities.

The latest round of funding will see 99 projects progressed across the country costing over €18.3 million.

Among the latest projects approved for funding are:

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys explained that grants for projects had been substantially increased this year.

"I am delighted to see that communities and local authorities across the country have worked together and put forward really ambitious projects which will make a lasting difference in towns and villages across the country.

“In the coming weeks, I will be announcing a further call for applications under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and I am asking local authorities and communities to come forward with more ambitious plans for their areas," Humphreys concluded.