Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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906. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on whether the overarching control and decision-making measures pertaining to rural towns falls between Departments and agencies with a lack of a joined up approach including no central body taking charge of policy, strategy, funding and research of towns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25303/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our towns and villages have always been at the heart of social and economic activity in rural Ireland. The Government wants our towns and villages to function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live and work, to raise families, and to act as hubs for services and for cultural and recreational activity for their surrounding areas.

However, we also recognise the challenges that many rural towns face. These include addressing vacant and derelict properties, the impact of online shopping on town-centre retail, and the general move away from town centre living and commercial activity. Addressing these challenges will require a more coordinated approach across both national and local government.

The Programme for Government commits to a collaborative and strategic Town Centre First approach to the development and regeneration of our towns. This approach will require the involvement of a number of key Departments, including my own. My Department has recently been in discussion with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Group to progress the commitment in the Programme for Government in a more coorindated way.

Over the last few years, my Department has invested significantly in the regeneration of rural towns and villages through Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and the CLÁR programme. In addition, in October 2018 my Department launched a pilot Town Centre Living Initiative in 6 towns in different parts of the country to explore ways to encourage increased residential occupancy in town centres. A report on the pilot Initiative was published in June 2020 and is available on my Department’s pages on the Gov.ie website.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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907. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the attempts made to develop a place-based approach to rural policies which would emphasise bottom up policies supported by top-down supports; and her plans to decentralise central services to a point of contact closer to the citizen. [25304/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I recognise that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to rural development. Different rural areas have different needs and require different solutions depending on their local assets, their peripherality, and their population density.

There are already some successful initiatives which proactively respond to the localised needs of rural areas. For example, the LEADER programme is based on a local-led ‘bottom-up’ approach. The programme recognises the diversity of rural areas and the importance of tailoring projects to local needs.

My Department is currently finalising a new rural development policy for the period 2020-2025. This new policy will reflect a whole-of-Government approach to supporting the economic, social and cultural development of rural Ireland and will place an emphasis on adopting a more tailored, place-based approach to rural development.

The Government also recognises the opportunity for the increased location of public services in rural areas. The Programme for Government commits to the siting of new State agencies, Departments and enterprises in towns and cities outside Dublin. The Programme for Government also places a strong emphasis on supporting remote working, which will enable more people to pursue a career while continuing to live in rural areas.

We will continue to build on these commitments for rural Ireland, not just within my own Department, but across Government, in order to deliver resilient, sustainable and vibrant rural communities and economies which support our national development.