Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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34. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will allocate funding for County Kerry and other counties under the 2022 CLÁR Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27821/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. 

I launched the 2022 CLÁR programme in February with a total budget of €7 million. This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for the 2021 CLÁR programme

The measures being funded under CLÁR 2022 are:

Measure 1:  Developing Community Facilities & Amenities

Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport

Measure 3: Our Islands

The 2022 CLÁR programme is now closed for all measures and the assessment process has commenced for all applications.

I hope to make an announcement on the successful applicants under Measure 2 in the coming weeks and Measure 1 and 3 will be announced later this year. 

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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35. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the development of the plans for the Town Centre First initiative. [27673/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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40. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status update on the appointment of the Town Regeneration Officers; the status of the National Town Centre First Office; if it is up and running to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27787/22]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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55. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the recently launched Towns First Policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27705/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 40 and 55 together.

The Town Centre First (TCF) Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.

Key to this is the establishment of the National Implementation Office to assist in the delivery and implementation of the policy, and to co-ordinate stakeholder engagement at a national level.

This office will be responsible for supporting Town Regeneration Officers (TRO) in driving implementation of the policy and will also produce an Annual Implementation Plan that monitors progress and delivery.

My Department has agreed the structure and funding for the National Office and the TROs with local authorities. The first step is the appointment of the head of the National Implementation Office. The recruitment process for this key post is currently ongoing.

Similarly, local authorities have now also been authorised to commence the recruitment of TROs who will drive the development of TCF Plans at local level across the country.

Key to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place. The policy is underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes, such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

For example, earlier this year I announced funding of €18.5m under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme and I have also recently launched the 2022 Scheme.  This year I have included a new Building Acquisition Measure, which will provide up to €400,000 to each local authority to purchase vacant and derelict buildings in rural towns and villages for development as community assets.  This new measure will be a key support for towns in implementing the Town Centre First approach locally.

I am committed to ensuring that the continued roll out of the Town Centre First policy will work to deliver on the goal of revitalising rural towns and villages as set out in Our Rural Future.