Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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647. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the evaluation of the Leader Local Development Strategies for the 2023-2027 programme; when the funding allocations are expected to be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44990/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.

The process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is ongoing at present and the Local Development Strategies, which were submitted by the applicant LAGs in July, are currently being assessed.

A number of LAGs have been approved to date to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER programme and my Department is now focusing on completing the selection of the remaining LAGs with a view to completing this process by the end of year to ensure a smooth transition from the 2014-2020 Programme.

The funding allocations for the 2023-2027 period for the LEADER sub-regional areas were announced in October last year and total €180 million. In addition to the €70 million allocated for the 2021- 2022 period this brings the total LEADER allocation for the 2021 – 2027 period to €250 million, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. The funding will be made available to the selected LAG(s) once the Local Development Strategy selection process is completed in the relevant sub-regional area.

LEADER has been operating very successfully in Ireland for over 30 years now and I am confident that the new LEADER programme will continue to deliver for rural communities all across the country.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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648. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the town centre first policy in Bailieborough; to detail the plan that has been developed; the funding committed and the expected completion date of the works. [45058/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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. It supports theOur Rural Futurevision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development.

The Department co-chairs the National Oversight and Advisory Group for the policy with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This Group seeks to oversee the delivery of the policy and ensures there is clear stakeholder visibility in relation to implementation. The Group met in December 2022, April 2023, and September 2023 and plans to meet again in early 2024.

The establishment of the National Implementation Office is key to the success of the policy. The Office supports Town Regeneration Officers (TRO) in driving implementation at a local level and coordinates stakeholder engagement. This structure is in place within the Local Government Management Association and Department officials are in ongoing contact with the Office.

TRO’s are continuing to be appointed in local authorities, in which they will support the establishment and ongoing work of Town Teams, providing technical, communications, administrative and project management support to Town Teams and supporting access to funding.

Central to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place. This includes my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund where funding of €115 million was allocated in the Fourth Call for regeneration projects across rural towns, and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is currently open for applications with a deadline of 10th November 2023.

The TCF policy is supporting the development of TCF Plans which will help rural towns identify viable projects in their area. These plans are being completed by the Town Team in the area and supported by the appointed TROs and the local authority. Each local authority was allocated funding of €100,000 in order to develop a TCF Plan. Nine of these plans have been completed to date, with the further seventeen to be completed by the 17th November 2023.

The TCF Plan for Bailieborough, Co. Cavan is due for completion this month and will be shared with the Department at that point.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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649. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the town centre first policy in Carrickmacross; to detail the plan that has been developed; the funding committed, and the expected completion date of the works. [45059/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development.

The Department co-chairs the National Oversight and Advisory Group for the policy with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This Group seeks to oversee the delivery of the policy and ensures there is clear stakeholder visibility in relation to implementation. The Group met in December 2022, April 2023, and September 2023 and plans to meet again in early 2024.

The establishment of the National Implementation Office is key to the success of the policy. The Office supports Town Regeneration Officers (TRO) in driving implementation at a local level and coordinates stakeholder engagement. This structure is in place within the Local Government Management Association and Department officials are in ongoing contact with the Office.

TRO’s are continuing to be appointed in local authorities, in which they will support the establishment and ongoing work of Town Teams, providing technical, communications, administrative and project management support to Town Teams and supporting access to funding.

Central to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place. This includes my Department's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund where funding of €115 million for regeneration projects across rural towns was announced in late 2022, and the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is currently open for applications 2023.The deadline for local authorities to apply under the 2023 Scheme is 10th November.

This TCF policy is also supporting the development of TCF Plans which will help rural towns identify viable projects in their area. These plans are being completed by the Town Team in the area and supported by the appointed TROs and the local authority. Each local authority was allocated funding of €100,000 in order to develop a TCF Plan. Nine of these plans have been completed to date, with the further seventeen to be completed by the 17th November 2023.

The TCF Plan for Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan is due for completion by 17 November and will be shared with my Department at that point.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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650. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if projects in Cavan are to benefit from the Building Acquisition Measure 2023 and if so, to provide details of the project and amount to be received. [45060/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Under the 2022 scheme, I introduced the Building Acquisition Measure (BAM) in recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres.

The purpose of this measure was to support local authorities to immediately acquire derelict or vacant buildings, with the intention of using these projects for town regeneration purposes in line with the aims of TVRS. Funding was again made available under this Measure in 2023.

Cavan County Council was approved funding under this measure to purchase two buildings in county Cavan. The funding draw down documentation for one of these building is currently with the Department for assessment in advance of issuing payment, and my Department is currently in consultation with the local authority regarding the funding draw down documentation for the other.

Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the purchases, details of the approved applications will be released when the details of the sales have been concluded by local authorities, and assessment of the payment draw down is completed by my Department.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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651. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if projects in south County Monaghan are to benefit from the Building Acquisition Measure 2023; and if so, to provide details of the project and amount to be received. [45061/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Under the 2022 scheme, I introduced the Building Acquisition Measure (BAM) in recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres.

The purpose of this measure was to support local authorities to immediately acquire derelict or vacant buildings, with the intention of using these projects for town regeneration purposes in line with the aims of TVRS. Funding was again made available under this Measure in 2023.

Monaghan County Council was approved funding under this measure to purchase 2 buildings in Co Monaghan. My Department is currently in consultation with the local authority regarding the submission of the funding draw down documentation.

Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the purchases, details of the approved applications will be released when the details of the sales have been concluded by local authorities and assessment of the payment draw down is completed by my Department.