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

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. The Town Centre First policy is a major cross-Government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. Key to this is the establishment of the national implementation office to assist in the delivery and implementation of the policy, and to co-ordinate stakeholder engagement at a national level. This office will be responsible for supporting town regeneration officers, TROs, in driving implementation of the policy. My Department has agreed the structure and funding for the national office and the TROs with local authorities. The first step is the appointment of the head of the national implementation office. The recruitment process for this key post is currently ongoing.

Similarly, local authorities have now also been authorised to commence the recruitment of TROs who will drive the development of town centre first plans at local level across the country.

Key to the town centre first approach is the range of support funding in place, including the town and village renewal scheme. This year, I have included under that scheme a new building acquisition measure that will provide up to €400,000 to each local authority to purchase vacant and derelict buildings in rural towns and villages for development as community assets. This new measure will be a key support for towns in implementing the town centre first approach locally.

I am committed to ensuring that the continued roll-out of the town centre first policy will work to deliver on the goal of revitalising rural towns and villages as set out in Our Rural Future. Under the town and village renewal scheme, we still have the other stream of funding whereby up to a maximum of €500,000 can be applied for to acquire a property and carry out refurbishment. That funding can also be used to repurpose properties that are already in the ownership of local authorities.

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