Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that funding. This is an important policy, especially for towns in rural areas that really suffered after the 2008 crash and throughout that period. In many cases they are yet to recover from that. There is much vacancy and dereliction across many rural towns and I have no doubt this policy, once implemented fully, will make a difference but putting those regeneration officers in place and ensuring they are there as soon as possible will be key to that.

On the Croí Cónaithe towns fund, I appreciate it is under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, but it is mentioned in the policy. I was surprised because if one is looking at putting a €30,000 grant into a building, it would be unusual for a local builder, especially those in rural areas, to have that level of money to put in while the homeowner is waiting on the grant and will not get it until the end. I thought that was unusual and that giving the grant in stages should be looked at. The builder who is doing the work should obviously be verified, but I suggest it be looked at

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