The government of Cyprus announced on Monday revised projects to support rural, mountain, remote and less-privileged areas, by which more communities and groups of the population will benefit.

Among others,  increased allowances are given, there has been an increase of the minimum income requirement and people are given the capability to build a permanent residence outside development areas in outermost mountain and outermost remote regions.

Interior Minister, Nicos Nouris, also said that the government decided to give separated plots of land to families which are still available after the termination of a plan in 2013 for giving plots of land to families with low income.

Nouris was speaking during a press conference that took place at the Presidential Palace to present the course of the implementation of the National Strategy for Mountain Communities and the revised housing plans and allowances to support people living in rural, mountain, remote and less-favoured areas.

Addressing the press conference, President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, assured that his government will continue with the same determination the comprehensive national strategy that has been set out since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, to support the mountain and remote regions.

He recalled that the government adopted in July 2019 the National Strategy for the Development of Troodos Mountain Communities which currently provides for the implementation of 350 actions until the end of 2030, with a budget amounting to more than 525 million euros.

"And I welcome the fact that 194 actions, amounting to 367 million euros, have either been fulfilled or are being implemented," he added.

Anastasiades also noted, among others, that the amount that has been estimated to be spent from 2022 until 2024 for development projects in rural communities and mountainous regions is more than 370 million euros, which is increased by 125 million euros compared to the money used for the years 2019-2021.

On his part, Nouris said, among others, that new criteria have been set out so that the plans for mountainous less-favoured regions and the outermost mountainous areas will become even more attractive.

He noted that funding allocations for 2022, compared to the 5 million euros allocated in 2021, increased to 15 million euros, something which shows the government`s will to support in a tangible way these areas.

Nouris said that with the changes that are being introduced, the revised project to rejuvenate mountain, remote and less-favoured areas will be extended to 19 more communities/areas,  covering in total 277 communities, municipalities and areas instead of 258 with a total population of 82,000 inhabitants.

The Minister said that income criteria have also been expanded by between €5,000 and €10,000 thus widening the scope of those who are eligible, while the maximum allowance has been increased between €5,000 and €15,000.

The second scheme covered 128 communities in the countryside which were not eligible under the previous one, thus ensuring all communities had access to a programme. With the changes in the criteria, 19 of the 128 communities have been ‘upgraded’ to the first scheme, Nouris said.

The second scheme provides for support of up to €20,000 for families of four or more and up to €15,000 for single-person households or families of three people.

Applications for both will be accepted from April 4 to December 31, Nouris said.

The government has also increased the sum budgeted in allowances for residents of mountain and remote areas from €6.5m in 2021 to €7.5m in 2022.

In addition, 37 more communities are moved up to a category eligible for higher assistance per household. As a result, the scheme now covers 119 communities with a population of 25,500.

The second scheme for remote areas has been amended so that communities at an altitude above 700m and a distance of 30 to 39km from the closest urban centre will be eligible, allowing 24 additional communities to benefit and bringing the total to 130 with a population of 27,000.

And to support working people who may need to commute, non-retired working adults will be entitled to a benefit that will not be income linked and will range from €300 to €600 a year depending on the distance from the closest urban centre.

On his part, Commissioner for the development of mountain communities, Costas Chambiaouris, said that the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities constitutes a concrete and generous model for development which is constantly being enriched with a structured, comprehensive and targeted programme of projects and actions and support plans drafted by the Ministries.