26 rural towns awarded funding to tackle derelict buildings

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

A total of 26 rural towns have been approved for a scheme which will see millions of euros spent on tackling dereliction and creating new community spaces.

The Town Centre First (TCF) initiative aims to enable areas to pursue projects like redeveloping derelict sites, creating community parks and river walkways, protecting historical landmarks and boosting tourism.

The new towns join 26 others, one in each county whose final action plans were published by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys and Minister of State for Local Government Kieran O’Donnell on Wednesday.

Some of the towns include the likes of Kanturk in Cork, Athenry in Galway, Kenmare in Kerry, Ballyhaunis in Mayo and Carrick on Suir in Tipperary.

Ms Humphreys said the scheme is about empowering people to develop a vision for their town that can make it a better place to live, work, invest in and enjoy.

Delighted today in Limerick, with my Ministerial colleague @HHumphreysFG to jointly launch the first ever Town Centre First Plans for each county.

✅New Town Regeneration Officers appointed
✅Proposals to tackle vacancy & dereliction
👏Congrats to Local communities & Town Teams pic.twitter.com/Qb5WPmPeqa

— Kieran O’Donnell TD for Limerick City Constituency (@kodonnellLK) February 28, 2024

She said the new town regeneration officers will ensure that the projects on vacancy have a strategic and coherent approach at local level.

“Government is firmly committed to strategic projects that will transform rural Ireland such as under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and we are already seeing the hugely positive impacts of investment right across the country.”

The additional 26 successful towns will receive €30,000 each to complete their redevelopment plan.

TCF is also designed to increase housing supply by bringing vacant buildings back into use.

The programme’s national co-ordinator, Mairead Hunt said it is hoped that many more town teams will come forward.

She added: “It is very welcome that the Department of Rural and Community Development is giving local authorities funding of up to €10,000 to establish new town teams or build up existing teams.”

The full list of towns announced on Wednesday as part of TCF is down below.