Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
87. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the locations in Cork that will benefit from the town centre first plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17889/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
The policy contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business. It will support Town Teams to develop their own Town Centre First Plans to chart the future direction of their towns and to address issues of vacancy and dereliction. Some 26 towns have already been allocated funding of €100,000 to produce their Town Centre First Plans, including Skibbereen in Cork. Additional towns in Cork and across the country will be supported to also develop plans as the policy is rolled out.
The implementation of the actions in these plans will be underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This will include funding through these schemes to address the regeneration of vacant and derelict buildings as identified in the Town Centre First plans.
The local Town Team drawn from local community and business representatives will work with local stakeholders to progress drafting of the plans and to identify challenges, actions and integrated responses across a number of key themes
The policy also includes funding for new Town Regeneration Officers, who will support Town Teams and local stakeholders to implement Town Centre First, tackle vacancy and dereliction challenges, and bring vibrancy back into our town centres.
