Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for a status update on Building Acquisition Measure 2023; the details of the successful applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27790/23]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. In 2022, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) prioritised projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use and promote residential occupancy in town centres.
In recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres I introduced a new Building Acquisition Measure under the 2022 Scheme. The purpose of this measure was to support local authorities to immediately acquire derelict or vacant buildings, with the intention of using these projects for town regeneration purposes in line with the aims of the overarching Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Town Centre First policy. I am happy to confirm that 29 properties were purchased by local authorities under the 2022 Measure. Building on the success of the 2022 Measure, funding under the Building Acquisition Measure was made available again in 2023.
On 27 March 2023 I announced a new fund for this Measure which is again designed to tackle vacancy and dereliction in rural Ireland. This year the Measure provided an increased funding allocation of up to €500,000 to each local authority to purchase up to 3 vacant and derelict buildings for future development as community assets. The original closing date for receipt of applications under the Building Acquisition Measure was 28 April 2023 but this was extended to 5 May 2023 in response to requests from local authorities to extend the deadline.
A total of 35 applications, valued at just over €8m were received from 22 Local Authorities. This week I announced the first tranche of successful applications under this measure, 23 applications were approved for funding of €5.4m. A further tranche is still under consideration and any further successful applications will be announced shortly.
Properties purchased under the Building Acquisition Measure must form the basis of an application under a future TVRS call or be developed for town regeneration purposes via the local authorities' own resources or another funding stream by the end of 2025.
