Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We agree on a lot. I also point out that, as the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has just said, the RRDF is helping in terms of building community revitalisation to assist in housing as well. We announced 30 RRDF projects last year, worth €164 million. A total of €20 million was spent under the town and village renewal scheme. That window is open again this year. We are looking at how we build infrastructure to encourage people. Under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the vacant properties grant is assisting in a lot of rural areas. I see houses opening up that have perhaps not been opened in my lifetime or at least for many decades. We will continue to promote that grant. We will see what changes need to be made to make it more flexible, to get people to revitalise existing properties. That, in turn, will support the post office, school, local facilities and local teams. It is all interconnected.

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