Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:10. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of buildings purchased under the town and village renewal scheme. [8629/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 5 February 2026
Ceisteanna (10)
Freagraí scríofa
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. This scheme places particular emphasis on projects that will bring derelict and vacant buildings and sites back into use as multipurpose community spaces. Over €210 million has been allocated to over 1,900 projects since the launch of the scheme.
In 2022, a new Buildings Acquisition Measure was introduced within the scheme. This saw an amendment to the scheme’s criteria to allow the provision of support to local authorities to acquire derelict or vacant buildings with a view to the later development of these buildings for community use.
Following engagement with the local government sector, the scheme’s criteria was subsequently widened further to allow the purchase of land in town and village centres under the Building and Land Acquisition Measure.
To date, the widened scheme criteria has seen the acquisition of 69 buildings and 8 sites nationally. This has included the acquisition of 14 buildings and 6 sites resulting from local authority applications I approved in July of last year under the 2025 Building and Land Acquisition Measure. A number of other acquisitions are currently in the final stages of the conveyancing process. Details of these properties will be confirmed on the conclusion of the necessary legal agreements.
The Building and Land Acquisition Measure has been successful in supporting local authorities as they identify properties that can be brought back into use to meet the needs of rural communities in towns across the country. I am particularly pleased to note that the intervention has seen a focus on the purchase of vacant and derelict buildings which are of strategic and cultural importance within towns - with buildings such as old schools, post offices, banks, pubs, parish halls and cinemas being included in applications. I remain committed to ensuring that my Department helps to address issues of town regeneration across rural Ireland, in line with the policy objectives set out in the Town Centre First Policy and Our Rural Future.
Questions Nos. 11 to 14, inclusive, answered orally.