Written answers
Thursday, 14 October 2021
Department of Rural and Community Development
Rural Schemes
Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has received an application for town and village renewal made by Clare County Council in respect of Clonlara Village, County Clare. [49950/21]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding to support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages. This year's Town and Village Renewal Scheme, with an indicative budget of €15 million, will place particular emphasis on addressing vacancy and dereliction, supporting remote working, and enhancing town centre living in line with the objectives of “Our Rural Future –Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025".
The closing date for applications to the 2021 Scheme was Friday 16th July. I can confirm that an application in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy was submitted by Clare County Council to my Department for consideration under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Applications are currently undergoing a formal assessment process, with funding being allocated to the successful applications, on foot of the outcome of this process. I expect to announce the successful applications before the end of the year.
Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the work of the interdepartmental group which was established to develop a town centre first approach; the number of times the group has met to date; when the group will bring forward its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50137/21]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government "Our Shared Future" commits to the development of a Town Centre First (TCF) policy. A TCF Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) was established in November 2020 and is jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. It has met on four occasions since its inaugural meeting in November last year.
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 support the work of the IDG. It is chaired by my colleague, Mr. Peter Burke T.D., Minister of State for Planning and Local Government. It is comprised of 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 approach.
There is general agreement within the groups that there is no one solution or issue that can or should be addressed in isolation but rather that that TCF should take a holistic approach and be capable of being tailored to address towns of varying size and characteristics.
I understand that a report on the implementation of a Town Centre First approach, together with recommendations on how to proceed, is nearing completion. I expect that the report will be finalised and brought to Government before the end of the year.
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