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

Deputy Carroll MacNeill is dead right to make the case. I suggest the council continues to send in applications. Kilternan got €80,000 in 2017. Stepaside got €100,000 in 2018. I encourage the Deputy's local council to keep sending applications.

The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage offers possibilities in tackling larger areas of population. There is also the connected hubs fund. Whether remote working facilities are private or run by a local authority or enterprise centre, funding can be applied for under that fund.

Under the town and village renewal scheme, the building acquisition measure is especially set up to acquire property. Up to €400,000 is available per local authority if an application to buy vacant properties is made. We all know of banks that are vacant properties in a number of towns. There is no reason we could not acquire some of those for community use.

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