Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy. 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. Central to the town centre first approach is a range of capital support funding that includes the rural regeneration and development fund and the town and village renewal scheme.

Both schemes facilitate the acquisition of buildings for community use and have already delivered landmark projects which tackle the issues Deputy Quaide referred to, such as vacancy and dereliction.

The rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, allows for the purchase of land and buildings, and provides funding for the development and construction of large-scale capital projects in rural areas, villages and towns throughout Ireland. Since 2018, €588 million has been allocated to 243 projects throughout the country.

Under the town and village renewal scheme, there is a specific building acquisition measure, which was introduced to support local authorities to acquire derelict or vacant buildings to allow for town regeneration. More than 50 properties have been purchased to date at a cost of €11 million. The main town and village renewal scheme has introduced a new option, which allows local authorities to acquire land to facilitate town regeneration. In addition, the main scheme has supported projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use as multipurpose spaces through the purchase and renovation of vacant and derelict buildings.

The 2025 town and village renewal scheme is currently open and allows for the discreet purchase of land and buildings under the building and land acquisition measure, as well as wider project plans under the main scheme. In recent weeks I have visited a number of these projects throughout the country and I have seen the difference they are already making in towns and villages. This is only because they have the support of their local authorities and, in particular, the support of the local community within that town or village. They are community driven and community owned. When this community involvement is there, the project will be successful.

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