Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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48. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the work completed by the town centre first inter-departmental group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33898/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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While our towns and villages have shown remarkable resilience through recent crises, they require specific policy supports to ensure that they continue to function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live and work, to raise families, to act as the service, cultural and recreational hub for the surrounding areas, and to facilitate social and community interaction.

In this context, the Programme for Government (PFG) committed to the development of a Town Centre First (TCF) policy.  With a view to giving effect to this commitment and the actions outlined in the PFG, a TCF Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) was established in November 2020 to consider the regeneration of our towns and villages. The IDG is jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD).  The IDG has met four times since its inaugural meeting in November. 

In parallel with the IDG, a Town Centre First Advisory Group was also established to enable the experiences of a broader group of stakeholders to be brought to bear in informing the process of policy development, and to support the work of the IDG. The Group, which I chair, comprises individual representatives from a broad range of sectors to ensure effective and diverse representation with the capacity and experience to contribute in a meaningful way to the preparation and implementation of a practical TCF framework.  The work of the Advisory Group has been advanced primarily through written submissions and bi-lateral meetings with the Co-chairs of the IDG and also the chairs of three IDG working groups that were also established to further inform and underpin the work of the Advisory Group and the IDG. 

Following the initial development stages through the forum of the IDG and Advisory Group, four key pillar areas are now in development as part of a TCF framework, via the support of three dedicated working groups which reflect the first three pillars below, tasked with addressing the following:

- Governance & Enabling Structures;

- Economic & Social Purpose;

- Living Towns Approach;

- Investment & Resources.

The fourth pillar, Investment and Resources, is cross-cutting and will draw on the combined work of the other three pillars.  Work has progressed well and draft working group papers are currently concluding for discussion, initially with the IDG and the Advisory Group, over the coming weeks.

The aim is that the Inter-Departmental Group will conclude its work over July/August in order to provide recommendations for consideration by Government shortly afterwards. 

There is general consensus among all the groups that there is no one solution or issue that can or should be addressed in isolation but rather that a TCF framework should be holistic and capable of being tailored to address the individual needs, size and characteristics of a town.  It is envisaged that recommendations will cover the short, medium and longer-term out to 2040, to align with Project Ireland 2040.