Dáil debates
Thursday, 20 June 2024
Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
Vacant Properties
10:50 am
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
The town centre first policy is a major cross-government policy that recognises vacancy and dereliction are still a challenge in many rural towns and villages. It seeks to breathe new life into our town centres, supporting the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland. Central to town centre first is the range of support funding, including my Department’s rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, and the town and village renewal scheme. In 2023, the town and village renewal scheme placed a particular emphasis on enhancing economic and social vibrancy, along with a focus on vacancy and dereliction. In April, I was delighted to announce €20.4 million in funding for 82 successful projects under the scheme. The full list of successful projects is on my Department’s website and includes a number of projects aimed at developing community facilities in vacant or derelict properties. In May, I announced €164 million under the RRDF for 30 projects throughout the country. The fund is having a demonstrably positive impact on addressing dereliction, in particular when it comes to heritage buildings in rural towns and this year's successful applications again included a range of imaginative and innovative approaches to the use of derelict and vacant properties.
Furthermore, over the last two years, I have also rolled out the building acquisition measure to support local authorities in purchasing vacant and derelict buildings for future development for community purposes. This measure has seen the purchase of disused Garda stations, banks, cinemas, parish halls and schools for redevelopment as community facilities. To support the roll-out of the town centre first policy, my Department is also funding town regeneration officers in rural local authorities. These officers are engaging directly with local communities to address how they can best progress the development of their towns and villages, including addressing the challenges of vacancy and dereliction. I have seen at first hand the impact that vacancy and dereliction can have on our rural towns and villages and I remain absolutely committed to addressing these issues and to making rural areas better places to work, live, invest in, raise a family and visit.
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