Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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85. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the Government measures to address dereliction in rural towns and the creation of work hubs; and if these schemes are available to urban villages such as those in Dublin city. [17842/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This represents a whole of Government policy and aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions, which will give our towns the tools and resources required to become viable, vibrant and attractive places to live, work, and socialise.

The policy is underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS).

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme prioritises the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our rural towns and villages, with a view to bringing these buildings back into use as remote working hubs, multi-purpose community spaces, and/or for residential occupancy. I increased the maximum grant available through the Scheme last year to €500,000 and I will be announcing the details of the 2022 scheme shortly.

The RRDF is also now open for applications until the 29th April 2022 for Category One projects i.e. those that have full planning and other consents in place and are ready to commence at the date of application. This call has a strong focus on supporting projects that will assist in revitalising our rural towns and villages through planned, sustainable regeneration and development including addressing vacancy and the re-use of heritage and other existing buildings.

Neither of these scheme funds projects located in metropolitan areas. Supports for such areas are available through the URDF operated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.