Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has made excellent suggestions that should be given consideration. The Government and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, are considering, as a part of the town centres first initiative, a suite of measures that will support and unlock much of that potential. Deputies across the House have spoken about the need to unlock the potential in our smaller town centres and on our high streets. The option of living above shops should be available. Shops should be brought back down into full occupancy, given the scale of the challenges in retail. The town centres first interdepartmental group, established by the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, in November 2020, will consider many of these fiscal measures, as well as other potential measures relating to the conservation of historic buildings and grant schemes that are much more targeted at bringing many properties back into productive use and providing a high level of thermal and acoustic comfort that makes it possible for people to live comfortably in town centres while a night-time economy is still being managed.

A wide suite of measures, therefore, will be brought forward under the town centres first policy, which will help unlock this potential we all want to see happen.

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