Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell and TCF National Co-ordinator, Mairéad Hunt at the launch of the Town Centre First scheme on 28 February.
Under a new initiative that aims to breathe new life into town centres, tackle vacancy and dereliction as well as boosting business and tourism, plans for 26 towns across Ireland are now up and running, and they are set to receive government support with funding of €30,000 each to complete comprehensive plans under the Town Centre First scheme.
The Town Centre First (TCF) initiative will see millions of euros spent on tackling dereliction and creating new community spaces across a range of rural towns, earmarked to receive funding. Plans were developed in consultation with local communities who represent the vision of local people for their area and contain proposals for a diverse range of projects. These include redeveloping derelict sites, creating community parks and walkways, boosting SME and tourism potential and protecting historical landmarks.
The new towns will now join 26 others (one in each county) whose final action plans were released by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys and Minister of State for Local Government Kieran O’Donnell at the end of February. The 26 additional towns will receive €30,000 each to complete their redevelopment plan.
Minister 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. She said the new town regeneration officers will ensure that the projects on vacancy have a strategic and coherent approach at local level.
Plans were developed in consultation with local communities who represent the vision of local people for their area and contain proposals for a diverse range of projects. These include such redeveloping derelict sites, creating community parks and walkways, boosting SME and tourism potential, and protecting historical landmarks.
Town regeneration officers have been appointed in every local authority to drive implementation of the new plans with the support of government funding through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
