Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1395. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to introduce a grants scheme to enhance shop fronts in towns and villages across the country that will also cover a significant proportion of the cost of painting all properties, including derelict properties and private homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2581/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland by delivering a wide range of strategic interventions and investments throughout the country. These are underpinned by the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First policies whose key aim is to breathe new life into rural towns and villages making them thriving places to live, work and raise a family.

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. Since the launch of the scheme over €177 million has been allocated to local authorities for almost 1,800 projects. Of this almost €7 million has been allocated to 67 projects in Kerry.

TVRS supports town centre economic and social vibrancy and regeneration and has included a particular focus on town regeneration and enhancing our streetscapes. In April 2024, €20.4 million in funding was allocated for 82 successful projects under the 2023 scheme and this included streetscape enhancement projects. The 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme is currently being prepared and it is anticipated that details of the scheme will be launched in the coming months.

The Town Centre First policy has been developed in conjunction with my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Falling within the parameters of this policy, I would refer to the publication ‘Bringing Back Homes’ which details over 20 incentives, funded measures and grants to support a reversal of housing vacancy and dereliction. Some of the main supports available and provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage include the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Conaithe initiative, the Repair and Leasing Scheme, the Buy and Renew Scheme, and the Living City Initiative.

I am committed to ensuring that the range of capital investment schemes operated by my Department will continue to support rural regeneration and local communities.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1396. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the Town Centre First policy; to provide a breakdown of the amount awarded and drawn down, per town, in each county; how much additional funding was provided in Budget 2025; when he expects phase two will take place; to provide an update on this policy as part of the new Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2709/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Launched in 2022, 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. TCF supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland by setting out a framework to facilitate and resource the regeneration of Irish towns to ensure they are vibrant, viable places to live, work, invest in, and visit.

Significant progress has been made since the launch of the Policy towards achieving its objectives. Important developments include the establishment of a dedicated National TCF Office within the Local Government Management Agency which drives the actions under the policy; the establishment of Town Teams nationally and the appointment of 26 Town Regeneration Officers in each local authority (funded by my Department) who work as central drivers of TCF at a local level; and the establishment of a National Oversight and Advisory Group which oversees delivery of the TCF policy.

In December 2021, funding of €2.6 million was announced to support the development of 26 TCF Town Plans. These community-based plans are produced by individual Town Teams, drawn from local community and business representatives, and are helping communities develop a vision for their town and identify viable projects to realise that vision. This first phase of TCF plans are now complete and have moved onto project delivery phase. These Town Plans can be viewed on the TCF website at .

In February 2024, a new TCF suite of supports was launched with of €4.5 million made allocated through three funding measures, which will help regenerate town centres through a bottom-up approach. This includes an allocation of €30,000 for the development of a further 26 TCF plans. The 2024 suite of supports also includes a funding allocation towards the establishment and development of Town Teams nationwide and to allow towns prepare for major projects via the ‘Project Development Measure’. Further details of successful projects can be found at . These projects are due to be completed later this year.

The tabular statement at the link below provides a detailed breakdown of funding awarded and drawn down to date per town in each county under these funding measures to support the implementation of the Town Centre First policy.

As can be seen from the 33 actions contained within the policy, the significance of TCF is that it provides an integrated policy approach for the development of Irish towns rather than being a funded programme in and of itself. Importantly, the TCF approach is also underpinned by a range of capital funding streams across Government which have been aligned with the policy aims of TCF. These include:

• The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (including €164m announced from 30 projects in May 2024)
• The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (including €20m announced for 82 projects in April 2024)
• The THRIVE scheme to revitalise our heritage buildings (including €85m in funding earlier this month)
• The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (including €1.9bn allocated under 3 rounds to date)