Government holds Moate launch for new national policy on town centres

Tackling derelict buildings in rural towns is one of the main aims of a new Town Centre First policy which was launched by the Government in Moate this morning (Friday).

The policy, which is the first of its kind to be launched by the Government, was unveiled at Moate Library by Ministers Heather Humphreys, Peter Burke and Malcolm Noonan.

The plan will see 'town regeneration officers' being employed in all local authorities to work with local communities and help them access a variety of Government funding streams around renewal and redevelopment.

Heather Humphreys, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, said Town Centre First would bring together "key stakeholders" from business, community and local government, and would "arm them with the tools and resources they need to make their towns thrive."

Under the policy, individual towns will be assisted by local authorities in developing Town Centre First plans for their area.

In December, an allocation of €100,000 each was made to 26 towns, one in each county, towards the first of these plans. Moate was chosen as the location in Westmeath, while Clara was the Offaly town and Strokestown was selected in Roscommon.

"These masterplans are key in ensuring our towns can tackle the issues of dereliction and vacant properties so that they can become better places in which to work, to live, to run a business and to raise a family," said Minister Humphreys.

She said the towns' plans should also examine issues like "job creation, remote working, climate action and digitisation."

The Minister of State with responsibility for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke, said the Government was aiming to bring 4,500 derelict buildings back into use by 2026.

He said the law reform commission was examining "how we can enhance" the process of local authorities compulsorily purchasing buildings.

In addition, he said, a new Croí Cónaithe fund which would include grants for people who restore derelict buildings to use as homes would be launched by Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien before the end of March.

The Crói Cónaithe fund, Minister Burke said, would give first-time buyers a grant "to bring derelict properties back into living standard."

Minister Humphreys said the grants provided to homeowners under the fund would be in the region of €30,000. "I think that's the minimum threshold we should introduce via the scheme, given the increased cost of home improvements," she added.

The launch today took place outside what had long been a disused courthouse before it was renovated and reopened as Moate Library in 2016. Minister Humphreys highlighted this project as an example that could be followed elsewhere.

"In Ballybofey, they have converted an old cinema. They got funding and they're going to turn that into an enterprise centre with remote working spaces.

"That's the type of thing we want to do - we want to help regenerate the town centre by converting those old buildings and bringing business back," she said.