Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The ideas and aims contained within the town centre first policy are positive. I am particularly struck by the level of cross-party support that has been expressed today, which I hope is a good omen for the success of this policy.

Our towns and villages have shown remarkable resilience throughout the recent crisis. The move towards remote working has changed how many people not only work but live. It is a change most people have welcomed. We had reached a stage where many people, in particular young people, felt their only option in terms of career progression was to move to a bigger city, to be in the hubs of social and economic activity, and this led to overstretched cities, in particular Dublin, and, sometimes, deserted or neglected towns and villages.

Town centre first represents a new approach to the development of our towns where local communities and local businesses can be central to reimagining their own towns and planning their own futures. I welcome this policy commitment to reinvigorating those towns and villages, acknowledging that each town is unique and requires unique solutions to the challenges and opportunities it faces. A one-size-fits-all approach will not work. The ambition of town centre first is one few people could argue with. We had many impressive and interesting submissions and recommendations to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. All were constructive. I am glad to note a number of these recommendations are included in the town centre first policy. It is important as town centre first progresses that we look to those examples of best practice to inform our policy. We should learn from the areas where bad planning does not serve communities properly.

As has been said by many of my colleagues this afternoon, for the town centre first policy to work to its full potential, we need to crack our approach to derelict housing. We must nail down our policy for returning vacant and derelict housing to the housing stock. Regenerating our towns and villages, unlocking vacant homes and bringing them back into use will increase the supply of housing, deliver economic renewal for towns and villages, bring environmental and social benefits, and allow for more balanced regional development. On behalf of Fine Gael, I have chaired two provincial public meetings on dereliction, one for Munster and one for Connacht-Ulster, which were a great means of hearing the views of residents and industry experts on how action on dereliction can help to revitalise their towns and villages.

I welcome the recent expansion of the vacant homes officer role in local authorities. This will ensure greater action is taken on vacant homes across all local authorities. While all county councils already have vacant homes officers in place, in many instances they are part-time roles. The 20% increase in funding will allow these officers to dedicate their time to tackling housing vacancy on a full-time basis.

I welcome the Government funding for the development of Adamstown town centre in Lucan. The urban regeneration and development fund has provided €9.7 million in funding to provide for public infrastructure and amenities that will facilitate the development of the Adamstown town centre. It will create a Boulevard Park, library and a town centre plaza. These are amenities that will make Adamstown an all-round nicer place to live. It will support the continued roll-out of homes around the town centre because, on foot of this funding, more than 580 new homes will be constructed in my community. This will add to the provision of much-needed social, affordable and private housing in the Dublin Mid-West area. Everyone wants to live in a vibrant useable space where their needs are met and they and their family can thrive. Town centre first will achieve this.

I again welcome this initiative. I thank the Minister of State and his team for all their hard work in getting us this far and I wish them the very best with this project.

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