Mr. William Parnell:

I will start with Deputy Smyth's questions. She asked how the towns were selected for the pilot. At the beginning of 2018, the Minister established a steering group to examine the most effective way to encourage increased residential occupancy in our towns and villages. Some schemes operated by the local authorities, for example, had not generated the levels of uptake necessary to have any real effect. That steering group included the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Finance, and a representative from the County and City Management Association, CCMA. The steering group suggested that the best way to proceed was through the development of a small number of well-planned pilot schemes that could be delivered relatively quickly by the local authority, working with the Department and other agencies. Arising from that process, those six towns were identified on the basis of a number of factors. First, we wanted some spread in the size and populations of the towns, as well as their locations. Towns from the west, the south east, the Border region and the midlands are all represented here. It is a mix of towns, some of which we would have worked with previously through other schemes such as the town and village renewal scheme. This was building on that scheme to some extent. Boyle is a good example, as it has its 2040 plan in place. These towns also had their own particular challenges, which would enable us to test them or give them an opportunity to identify challenges and solutions. It is also a mix of historic towns, market towns and towns that might be attractive to tourists.

Deputy Smyth also asked about how to achieve replication. The objective was to use these six towns as a pilot to identify the common threads. We are now seeing some of those common threads and themes coming through very clearly, and we hope we will see solutions coming out of it as well. We hope to use the learning from this pilot to advise us in designing schemes or policies around town centre rejuvenation. This touches a bit on where we go from here, about which Senator Hopkins and others asked. The intention is to put together a final composite report, and we have commissioned someone to help us with that. By the end of the year, a draft composite report will be put together and presented to the Minister. It will summarise all the key issues, including those we have heard about today and more. It will also look at international experience to see whether there are any learnings from other countries that could be applicable here. If committee members would like to make any suggestions to the Department on that, based on these meetings, we would be very happy to receive them.

Senator Coffey asked whether we intend to extend the scheme. Ultimately, that is the Minister's prerogative. We are seeing many similar themes which are probably applicable right across the board. The question is how to take learnings from this scheme to help other towns and develop master plans. The importance of having a master plan and stakeholder engagement was one of the strong messages I heard today. It is interesting that a number of these towns are looking at clusters of houses. When we started this initiative, we thought it would be about renovating single properties.

Based on our engagement and what we have heard today, it is very interesting to hear about the potential to have clusters of houses. That is an important message. There is a great amount of learning that will prove very valuable. As I stated in my opening remarks, the intention was always that the RRDF would provide an opportunity not just for these towns but also other towns to come up with proposals and develop plans to support town centre regeneration, including residential occupancy of vacant buildings. In fact, in the announcements made by the Minister last week on the RRDF, it was quite interesting to see that a number of towns were addressing the issue of vacant properties and premises. Towns such as Tulla, Virginia and Loughrea come to mind, where a vacant property, probably a public property, is being taken to try to create a civic space, community-based attraction or facility. I am very encouraged to see that happen, not just in the towns mentioned but in others that are recognising that the RRDF is a vehicle that can be used to provide multi-annual support, rather than simply an annualised pot of money.

Senator Coffey also asked about philanthropic contributions. We deliberately wrote into the terms of the fund that there would be an opportunity to provide philanthropic funds to contribute to projects. Without naming any, we have had conversations with a number of philanthropic organisations about what the Department is doing to try to revitalise rural towns. I am aware that some organisations were involved with the LEADER programme in the past in providing funding for local development companies. As a Department, we are keen to explore the development of the philanthropic sector. We are aware that there are organisations that are, and have been, willing to contribute. This is something on which we are also working.

Senator Hopkins asked about the extent to which local authorities had been working together. The Department has chaired a group involving representatives of all of the towns represented here. It has met regularly, on five or six occasions, since this initiative was established last October, including at a facilitated workshop in September that drew a wider group of interests, including some of the people the committee may have met last week. The local authorities have been working together and we will continue to try to facilitate engagement to learn lessons from it.

The Senator's comment about employment is apt and important because from what we have heard in the presentations today, there is a need for an holistic approach. Ultimately, we are trying to renovate properties and encourage people to come back to live in town centres. To do this, facilities need to be in place, as well as employment opportunities. Ms Mulholland gave a good example of how Kilkenny County Council has used other sources of funding, including the town and village renewal scheme, to build facilities to support families who might eventually move in, including recreational spaces, but the employment issue is also important. It is important to remember that funds such the RRDF and schemes such as the town and village renewal scheme have placed a focus on stimulating economic activity in rural towns. Some practical examples include investment in digital, enterprise and food hubs. Within the Department, we engage closely with the enterprise development agencies, including Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, as well as the local enterprise offices. We are increasingly engaging in such work. The Atlantic economic corridor is a good example of an initiative where we are all working closely together, with a view to attracting investment and jobs. The point has been well made point and it is important to keep an eye on it.