Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak a little bit about our programmes under Housing for All to tackle vacancy and dereliction in our towns. The Croí Cónaithe or living heart fund has been launched recently. Under the town centres first policy, the Croí Cónaithe cities scheme focuses on how we develop apartments within city centres but I want to speak about the Croí Cónaithe towns scheme. We might request the timeline for the launch of this fund. We are seeing that town regeneration officers are being allocated to local authorities. This is crucial because we can see in many of our towns buildings that have been left derelict. Although county councils and local authorities can target these, under dereliction notices, it takes a long time for them to be moved on. I know we have the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, who is over local government. He will be visiting us and some of our businesses in Ballinasloe to give an update on the town centres first policy and what it will mean for businesses and retailers in our local areas. However, it would be good to know how we will develop this policy further in terms of having the fund available through local authorities. I request that the Minister or the Department give us a timeline or speak to us about the Croí Cónaithe towns fund in particular.