Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 September 2022
133. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the recently launched Towns First Policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44713/22]
View answerThe Town Centre First (TCF) Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. The policy is an important deliverable under Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy for the period to 2025.
A key step in delivering the TCF Policy is the establishment of the National Implementation Office to ensure the delivery and implementation of the policy, and to co-ordinate stakeholder engagement at a national level. The office is responsible for supporting Town Regeneration Officers (TRO) in driving implementation of the policy and will also produce an Annual Implementation Plan that monitors progress and delivery.
My Department has agreed the structure and funding for the National Office and the TROs with local authorities and a National TCF Coordinator has been appointed to head up the National Implementation Office. The National Coordinator is currently in the process of staffing this office.
Similarly, local authorities have also begun appointing TROs who will drive the development of TCF Plans at local level across the country. The first of these officers have already taken up their roles, and it is expected that all TROs will be in place in the coming months.
The policy is also underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes, such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
For example, earlier this year I announced funding of €18.5m under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme and I have also recently launched the 2022 Scheme, including a new Building Acquisition Measure. This measure provided up to €400,000 to each local authority to purchase vacant and derelict buildings in rural towns and villages for development as community assets. In July, I approved funding of €7.5m under this Measure for 36 vacant and derelict buildings to be purchased by local authorities. This new measure will be a key support for towns in implementing the Town Centre First approach locally.
I am committed to ensuring that the continued roll out of the Town Centre First policy will work to deliver on the goal of revitalising rural towns and villages as set out in Our Rural Future.
