Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 13 November 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development

Town Centre Living Initiative: Discussion

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for her co-operation. We have had a very constructive meeting. I thank all the witnesses for their work on this very important issue of regenerating our village and town centres, making them a more attractive place in which to live and work. Considerable work remains to be done. I highlight Mr. Hynes's contribution. What he said is key in terms of getting community engagement as a start, getting that plan in place and then drawing down the necessary resources to implement that plan. That is exactly what we heard last week from the community organisations. Westport is put up there as the poster child and it has won national awards. It would not have achieved those objectives if it did not have that master plan back in the day.

As has been said, it was a 20-year project and it is reaping the rewards of that. The resources followed as well, which is key.

The job of work done by each local authority is important. There is certainly a crossover between Castleblayney and the Waterford experience. There is so much overlap there. So much must, and should, be learned. I compliment the Minister for coming up with this initiative and the officials for working closely with the various different groups but we need to learn the lessons from this and enable local authorities to work more closely with communities and provide the necessary resources to bridge the gaps that are there.

Mr. Hynes said that we do not need to look outside this State. In his initial contribution, he said that Mayo County Council has adopted the Scottish approach to community futures. This ties in with what Free Market said last week because it is pushing the Scottish approach, which seems to have been adopted by the county council. What is his thinking on that?

Deputy Stanley has just returned. I understand the pressure he is under. We are trying to wrap the meeting up but I know he wants to make a contribution. Could he make his contribution and I will then ask every organisation represented here to give a one-minute wrap-up? We will then adjourn.

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