Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

121. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will revise the town and village renewal scheme and the Towns and Cities Investment Fund to enable regeneration work across urban communities in Dublin west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38158/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025, presents the Irish Government’s blueprint for the sustainable development of rural Ireland. It sets out a vision for a thriving rural Ireland, and establishes a strategic framework for the delivery of capital investment under my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme.

Town centre regeneration is a key focus of my Department and the funding schemes available are guided by Our Rural Future and Town Centre First policies.

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. Since the launch of the scheme over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The scheme targets funding primarily at towns and villages outside of city metropolitan areas, and with populations of less than 10,000. TVRS priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and to respond to changing needs and opportunities.

The Town Centre First policy, a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres was developed in conjunction with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. There are dedicated funding schemes available to local authorities to support larger and urban towns such as the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), available through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH).

The URDF is administered by the DHLGH and was established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns with a specific focus on towns with a population of over 10,000.

It is not my intention to alter the rural focus of the schemes included in my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme at this time.