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

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The town and village renewal scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland.

In 2022, the scheme prioritised projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use and promote residential occupancy in town centres.

In recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres, I introduced a new building acquisition measure under the 2022 scheme. The purpose of this measure was to support local authorities to immediately acquire derelict or vacant buildings with the intention of using these projects for town regeneration purposes in line with the aims of the overarching town and village renewal scheme and Town Centre First policy. I am happy to confirm that 29 properties were purchased by local authorities under the 2022 measure.

Building on the success of the 2022 measure, on 27 March 2023 I announced a new fund for the building acquisition measure, which is again designed to tackle vacancy and dereliction in rural Ireland. The original closing date for receipt of applications under the building acquisition measure was 28 April 2023 but this was extended to 5 May 2023 in response to requests from local authorities to extend the deadline. A total of 35 applications valued at just over €8 million were received from 22 local authorities. This week, I approved the first tranche of successful projects under this measure. I am happy to confirm that 23 applications have now been approved for €5.4 million in funding. In each case, these approved projects will now proceed through the standard process of agreeing the terms of purchase. In order not to prejudice this process in any way, full details of the individual projects involved will be announced as the relevant local authorities complete the purchase of the buildings in question. A further tranche of applications is still under consideration and as this process is progressed, further approvals will issue.

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