Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Chair and Deputy Ó Cathasaigh. Like the Deputy, I am committed to the town centres first policy. I have been talking to my colleagues in government about this initiative and we are having another meeting today to progress this scheme. Attending will be the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. We can make a huge difference by repurposing old buildings in towns and villages. Those locations have the required services, water supply and electricity connections in place. What we must do is to incentivise people to come back and live in the centres of towns. For many young people, indeed, these buildings could be their first starter homes when they buy properties. However, the problem we have now is that the cost of renovating such buildings will outweigh the finished value. We are exploring several options in that regard through the town centres first policy. I am totally committed to progressing the initiative, because it forms another part of the solution to the need for housing.

Turning to the town and village renewal scheme, it has been very popular since its launch way back in 2016, I believe. I remember launching the scheme, which had funding of €5 million when it started. The funding has now increased to €20 million. Funding of €15.4 million for 170 projects in rural towns and villages was announced in January 2021 and the funding rate for the local authorities increased to 90%. The scheme launched in May has an indicative budget of €5 million and the closing date for applications is today, so those who may be interested had better get them in. The scheme focuses on projects which will bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use for town centre living. We are investing in the centres of towns and by doing so we are making those towns more attractive for other things to happen. That might mean people moving back to live in them, while the funding will also improve the streetscape and the value of the buildings in the towns. There has been a good deal of investment and I want that to continue. Some €5 million of the town and village renewal allocation is for the connected hubs. That aspect is important because it will provide funding to help with those buildings that do not need major renovation but which could do with some limited adaptation. It will turn those buildings into remote working spaces.

I take the Deputy's point regarding the skill sets that may be needed to ensure that the character and design of some of these old buildings are maintained and that their heritage importance is respected whenever we are doing this type of renovation in the town centres. The Minister of State with responsibility for heritage, Deputy Noonan, has different training programmes in his section in this regard and much good work is also being done with the Heritage Council concerning the skill sets required to do that type of work. I think I have covered all the questions asked now.

The Deputy referred to the islands as well, and I will use this opportunity to mention the Clare Island ferry, because questions have been raised about it. I visited Clare Island as recently as last year, or it might possibly have been the year before that - I am losing track of the years - and I spoke with many of the islanders. I know the challenge they are facing. I have much time for islanders and I will be happy to meet a delegation from the island. Regarding the current tender process, about which some people are concerned, the date for receipt for all tenders for the ferry service has now passed. The deadline for documentation to be received via e-tenders was 8 June.

Deputies will appreciate that I cannot comment on the specific details of tenders for a live procurement process but I want to be absolutely clear that there can be no reduction in the current level of service being provided to Clare Island. I expect we will have an outcome to the tender process imminently and I ask members of the committee to await the outcome of that process and reserve judgment until we see what the level of service will be. I assure the committee and the islanders that if the level of service were to be less than what is currently on offer in terms of minimum sailings following the tender process, I would be prepared to look at re-tendering for the service. My priority is to make sure the local people on Clare Island have a decent service available to them. I know that some members may have been getting representations about this issue and I wanted to take the opportunity to outline the position. I thank the Chairman for his indulgence.