Town Centre Planning for Portlaw

I spoke in the Dáil with regard to the Town Centre First approach.

The town centre first approach is writ large across the programme for Government. It has since been put at the heart of the Our Rural Future document and Housing for All. Our towns and villages offer a serious quality of life proposition, but only if supported with good public services, a proper public realm and attractive housing solutions. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, announced this morning the first phase of funding for the development of town centre first plans, amounting to €2.6 million for 26 towns across the Twenty-six Counties. I am very pleased to see Portlaw in County Waterford included in the first phase of funding. The town is a very good fit. Its community enhancement committee is doing great work on the ground. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will agree with me on that. How is it intended for this round of funding to be put to work? More broadly, when will we see the town centre first policy published to underpin this work into the future?

Reply from the Tánaiste

As the Deputy mentioned, the Minister for Rural and Community Development announced this morning the first phase of funding for the development of the first town centre first plans. There will be €2.6 million in funding for 26 town in 26 counties. The Deputy will be pleased that Portlaw in County Waterford has been included in the first phase of this. I share the Deputy’s thanks to, and respect for, the community enhancement committee for doing the great work on the ground to make that possible. I am sure that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and Senator Cummins would agree with me on that. I do not have a date yet for the publication of the town centre first policy, but I know it is a priority of the Government. It is a priority of the Green Party. We need to ensure we get it done. I expect it will be next year, but I do not have a date at the moment.