Joe Carey
Question:44. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the expenditure of the town centres first funding that was recently allocated by her Department. [8480/22]
View answerThursday, 17 February 2022
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Written answers
On 9 December 2021 I announced €2.6 million in funding to deliver Town Centre First Plans in 26 towns across the country. The development of these 26 plans will feed into the Government’s overall Town Centre First Policy which was launched on 4 February last.
The policy includes 33 actions aimed at creating town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live work and visit, while also functioning as the service and cultural hub for the local community. Promoting the development of Town Centre First Plans is one of the actions outlined in the policy.
The €2.6 million funding will support each local authority, working with a collaborative Town Team, to develop a bespoke Town Centre First plan to guide the development of each town. As part of the initiative, each local authority will be provided with €100,000 to support the development of a unique vision for the town which will also outline specific interventions required to deliver on this vision. Further phases of funding for Town Centre First plans will be announced as the policy is rolled out.
Local authorities have been provided with the first tranche of this funding in order to deliver on the Town Centre First Plans. The Local authorities have been requested to develop and finalise plans, and to utilise the funding provided, within an 18 month period.