Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
686. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures her Department is taking to address vacant or derelict retail units in our small towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21185/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhilst the Department of Rural and Community Development does not have a specific remit to address retail vacancy or dereliction, many of the policies and schemes led by the Department contribute to the broader economic revitalisation of rural towns.
The Town Centre First Policy, for example, 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.
Earlier this year, I launched a new suite of supports which is providing €4.5 million to support broader efforts to regenerate town centres through a bottom-up approach. It is supporting the development of 26 town plans, the establishment and development of Town Teams and the completion of Project Development Measure (PDM) projects. Funding has been awarded to successful towns to develop a town plan and I expect to announce further towns to receive support and successful PDM projects shortly.
Central to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place, including my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
This week, I announced funding of €164 million for 30 projects under the 5th Call for Category 1 projects located right across the country. These projects will be transformative as they focus on revitalising our rural towns and villages by supporting sustainable regeneration projects. The RRDF is having a demonstrably positive impact on promoting economic growth in rural areas and successful projects in this call included €5.2 million for the redevelopment of a derelict convent primary school building and grounds to provide a public library, enterprise hub and public park in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, and €3.2 million to redevelop a former residential school to provide an enterprise development, training and research facility in Baile Bhúirne, Co Cork.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme launched in 2016 and since then over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The 2023 Scheme placed a particular emphasis on projects that bring economic and social vibrancy to town centres in line with the Government’s policies to encourage more people into town and village centres to work, shop and socialise. On 29 April 2024, I announced €20.4 million in funding to support 82 successful projects under the 2023 Scheme. This includes an allocation of €743,087 to support 3 projects in Cavan and €750,000 to support 3 projects in Monaghan. A full list of the approved projects can be viewed on my Department’s website.
The Building Acquisition Measure is also supporting local authorities in purchasing vacant and derelict buildings for future development for community purposes. Over €10 million has been awarded to local authorities to support the purchase of 53 vacant and derelict buildings to date. This initiative will see vacant properties such as bank buildings, courthouses, and Garda stations redeveloped as community facilities across rural Ireland.
