Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Transforming how we see towns will be at the heart of how we deal with our changing world. In both rural and urban areas, we need to bring people back to the town centre, close to services, shops and schools and able to walk or cycle wherever they need and leave the car behind. There has been much talk of the 15-minute city but we need the 15-minute town as well. This fund has potential in a situation where dereliction is a major blight in many of our towns. Deputy Ó Broin has clearly outlined some of the issues that need to be resolved to ensure the plan meets its full potential.

Many towns in my constituency can benefit from this strategy in the future, including Carrigaline, Crosshaven and Passage West. I am particularly keen to see regeneration of the docks site in Passage West. We need a plan to transform it to become the new central hub of the town. As a massive 8-acre site in the middle of the town, it has huge potential. The county council should proceed with a master plan for the site and go from there. This is something for which I have been pushing for several years. It is key to the regeneration and revitalisation of a marvellous town.

The master planning process that is proposed to be funded is welcome but, on its own, it will not work. A more aggressive strategy on dereliction is needed from the local authorities. Deputy Ó Broin's point about dereliction officers is well made. We need councils to take on properties and property owners where those properties are derelict. They must use the powers they have, including, if necessary, CPOs. I welcome that Corky City Council has shown this more aggressive approach in recent weeks in respect of North Main Street and Barrack Street. However, it cannot avail of this fund for urban villages and towns that could benefit from it in tackling dereliction and restoring life to them. I think of areas such as Barrack Street, the Bandon Road district, Douglas village, the South Parish and Middle Parish. These urban villages and towns could benefit from the fund. Many small but densely built streets, with small houses, in these areas have great potential. They were once at the heart of thriving communities. Again, the council should take an aggressive approach and use those properties for young families, not just to tackle the housing crisis but to revitalise the areas and bring about those 15-minute cities and 15-minute neighbourhoods. It would do incredible good to see that happen in areas such as Bandon Road, Barrack Street, Friars Walk, the South Parish and Middle Parish, Evergreen Street, Albert Street and all the surrounding areas that made up the traditional heart of the south side, middle and north side of Cork city. They need to be made once again into thriving communities and key to that is tackling dereliction. These properties need to be used for social and affordable housing as well as for private development and use in a private capacity. We need to bring communities back to these neighbourhoods and bring life to them.

The fund is welcome but it is a shame there are communities in cities that cannot benefit from it. When we think of towns and villages, we need to think of urban towns and villages by the same token.

I urge the Minister of State to consider that and we look forward to engaging with this fund for the towns that can qualify for it at the moment.

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