Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Anything to do with town centre refurbishment and regeneration should be done on a cross-government basis. Under town and village renewal and under the building or land acquisition measure, there might be potential for Kerry County Council to look at doing something if that plan continues. We are absolutely committed to town centre first and getting plans in place to identify this kind of project in advance and to look at the use of buildings in advance so they do not just get landed on people without notice and there is some sort of a plan. The town regeneration officers, the town centre first suite of supports and the building or land acquisition measure under town and village renewal gives the possibility, opportunity and chance to do that.

As I said, we have previously funded the repurposing of courthouses. If Kerry County Council has a plan in relation to that building, I encourage it to discuss that. From the Department of Rural and Community Development, we have funded the employment of people within local authorities to apply for these plans and for the funding. It puts a huge pressure on local authorities and it requires a level of expertise but we have made that funding available to do that.

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