Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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705. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason the town centre first policy has failed to significantly reduce vacancy rates in smaller towns since its launch; and if he will commit to new measures to strengthen its delivery. [23388/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government’s ‘Town Centre First’ (TCF) Policy was launched by my Department and the then Department of Rural and Community Development in 2022 and provides a whole-of-government policy framework to address the decline in the health of towns and support measures to revitalise them. To drive the delivery of Town Centre First, a number of national structures and supports were established, including a network of Town Regeneration Officers (TROs) throughout the Local Government sector. These officers manage and lead the local TCF efforts, and collaborate with existing resources and stakeholders to ensure an integrated approach is taken within the Local Authorities.

TROs are working in concert with the wider local authority teams focused on regeneration and town revitalisation, supported by the National TCF Office. The TROs also support local communities in the preparation of their TCF Plans and provide information and assistance in the drawdown of various new and existing funding streams to support the implementation of these Plans on the ground.

Tackling vacancy is a key action of the Town Centre First Policy and TROs are working in close co-operation with full-time Vacant Homes Officers now also present in each local authority. The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department has published the ‘Vacant Homes Action Plan’ to draw together a number of vacancy related measures across relevant Government Departments. In March 2025, I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the significant progress that is being made in tackling vacancy and it is available on my Department's website at the following link:

In addition, where local authorities find that the acquisition of particular derelict properties is the appropriate mechanism to return them to use, they are now supported through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which has established a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties (residential and/or commercial), using their compulsory purchase powers where necessary and to carry out any associated works needed to make them more attractive for re-use or sale.

On completion of the most recent review of this element of the URDF programme, a total of 1,297 residential and commercial properties were approved by my Department for inclusion on the approved programmes for all 31 local authorities.

A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Activation Programme was also launched by my Department in April 2023. The Programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant and derelict properties. It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers, including under the Derelict Sites Act, to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful. Support and guidance on implementation of the Programme is being provided to local authorities by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department and by the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency.

My Department also introduced Planning and Development Regulations, that provide an exemption from the need to obtain planning permission for the change of use of certain vacant commercial buildings to residential use, including ‘above the shop’ living. The most recent local authority returns from 2023 show that local authorities have received notifications of 1,165 exempted development proposals to date, with plans put forward to result in the provision of 2,716 new homes nationwide.

These exemptions can be combined with other vacant property supports such as the ‘Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant’ (VPRG) under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund and also the ‘Repair and Leasing Scheme’ operated by my Department . At the end of Q1 2025, over 12,400 applications have been received for the VPRG with over 8,600 approved and over 2,000 grants paid to date as refurbishment works have been completed. Further information on the range of supports is also available on my Department’s website at the following link:

The new Programme for Government ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’ will further continue work on dereliction and regeneration challenges as it includes a commitment to resourcing the TCF model and to establish a Town Regeneration Team in every local authority by bringing together Town Regeneration Officers, Vacant Homes Officers and other key staff.