Thomas Gould
Question:989. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if Blackpool, County Cork will be allocated a town centres first officer. [7447/22]
View answerTuesday, 15 February 2022
Questions (989)
Written answers
The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business.
The policy is underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Action 3 of the new policy refers to the provision of Town Regeneration Officers (TROs). The TROs will be appointed in local authority areas to drive the implementation of Town Centre First. Town Regeneration Officers will be crucial to supporting the development of Town Centre First plans and ensuring their delivery thereafter. I was delighted to secure new funding for these posts in Budget 2022.
It is envisaged that Town Regeneration Officers will be appointed in the majority of local authority areas to drive town regeneration and implement the Town Centre First policy. The Officers will be responsible for delivery of the Town Centre First policy across the local authority area rather than being assigned solely to an individual town. In addition, and given the focus of the policy on the regeneration of our towns, it is not envisaged at this time that such officers will be appointed in respect of the 5 city metropolitan areas, which would include Blackpool in Cork City. These areas will, of course, continue to be supported through funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund delivered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.