Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Funding has been provided for town regeneration officers and they will be appointed in due course. They will work with the different stakeholders to have a clear plan on where towns want to go. They will consult with local communities and work with the people in the town. There are many different funding streams so we need joined-up thinking as to what the overall plan is. The town regeneration officers will get the plan and work with different Departments to make sure they maximise it and the right outcome is there in terms of planning. If one does not plan, one is in bother.

We have the €9 million connected hubs funding stream for existing digital hubs and broadband connection points in every region. There are opportunities for private operators to apply for that funding and some of them have done so. The fund is closed at the minute. It has been disbursed but there is more for next year.

To communities I would say to work with the local authorities. That is the best place to go because local authorities have been doing good work in consulting with communities and putting in applications, whether for improvement in the town centre or bringing back derelict buildings for 21st-century use.

Deputy Dillon is right. I was in Swinford and had a great day there. What they have done to convert that old courthouse into a remote working hub is wonderful.

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