Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
648. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the town centre first policy in Bailieborough; to detail the plan that has been developed; the funding committed and the expected completion date of the works. [45058/23]
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. 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.
The Department co-chairs the National Oversight and Advisory Group for the policy with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This Group seeks to oversee the delivery of the policy and ensures there is clear stakeholder visibility in relation to implementation. The Group met in December 2022, April 2023, and September 2023 and plans to meet again in early 2024.
The establishment of the National Implementation Office is key to the success of the policy. The Office supports Town Regeneration Officers (TRO) in driving implementation at a local level and coordinates stakeholder engagement. This structure is in place within the Local Government Management Association and Department officials are in ongoing contact with the Office.
TRO’s are continuing to be appointed in local authorities, in which they will support the establishment and ongoing work of Town Teams, providing technical, communications, administrative and project management support to Town Teams and supporting access to funding.
Central to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place. This includes my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund where funding of €115 million was allocated in the Fourth Call for regeneration projects across rural towns, and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is currently open for applications with a deadline of 10th November 2023.
The TCF policy is supporting the development of TCF Plans which will help rural towns identify viable projects in their area. These plans are being completed by the Town Team in the area and supported by the appointed TROs and the local authority. Each local authority was allocated funding of €100,000 in order to develop a TCF Plan. Nine of these plans have been completed to date, with the further seventeen to be completed by the 17th November 2023.
The TCF Plan for Bailieborough, Co. Cavan is due for completion this month and will be shared with the Department at that point.
