Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
378. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide her response to a report (details supplied) from the Heritage Council's CTCHC Programme, Tipperary Town Revitalisation Task Force, and Tipperary County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19955/23]
View answerThe Town Centre First Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development.
A key aim of both the Town Centre First, and the Our Rural Future Policy is addressing vacancy and dereliction in rural towns and villages across the country, and ensuring that the policies and schemes in place directly address and tackle these issues. This complements other national policies such as Housing for All and the National Planning Framework which also aim at tackling vacancy in rural towns and villages as well as supporting local communities.
I am aware of the Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) report mentioned by the Deputy, and I understand that colleagues in the Department of Housing, who partner with my Department on the Town Centre First Policy, are involved with the Tipperary Town Revitalisation Taskforce.
As well as providing policy leadership, my Department is supporting the development of Town Centre First Plans under the policy. I approved funding of €2.6m in December 2021 for an initial phase of 26 towns across the country. These initial plans are due for completion in June this year and I also expect to announce a further call for towns to develop their Town Centre First Plans following their completion.
Although the Town centre First Plan initiative currently targets smaller towns, I would strongly encourage Local Authorities to consider developing Town Centre Plans for our larger towns, which will help identify potential projects which may be supported through available funding streams such as the Urban Regeneration Development Fund and LEADER funding.
My Department remains committed to the success of the Town Centre First policy to deliver on the goal of revitalising rural towns and villages as set out in Our Rural Future, and so we encourage local authorities to draw on the conclusions and recommendations of Town Centre Health Checks.
