Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces towns to receive funding under the Town Centre First Town Team Support Fund

• Investment for 68 Town Teams nationwide

• Funding will support communities to establish or develop Town Teams where they are not already well established.

• Minister Humphreys: This is about addressing challenges such as vacancy and dereliction; Making our rural towns more vibrant places

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today announced a new initiative to support our Town Teams.

The first ever Town Team Support Fund will deliver funding for communities that have never had a Town Team before.

The investment will also assist towns that are only recently established.

A total of 68 towns will be supported with €10,000 in funding per town.

The funding may be used to support the establishment and/or development of town teams where they are not already well established, and to better understand the unique features of towns. The projects will be managed by the DRCD-funded Town Regeneration Officers across the country.

In announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said:

“I’m delighted today to announce the first ever dedicated investment in our Town Teams.

“This is all about tackling vacancy, combatting dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.

“Through this initiative, we are recognising the importance of having vibrant towns, which are places to live in, work in, visit, and raise a family in.

“Town teams are key to rural regeneration and I am delighted that this funding will support the development of these teams and the creation of teams where they currently don’t exist.

“Amongst other things, these Town Teams play a vital role in helping communities access the wide range of funding available from my Department under various schemes”

This funding follows on from the recent announcement of €780,000 which will support the development of a Town Centre First Plan in a further 26 towns. These plans represent the communities own vision for the future of their towns.

To find out more about the Town Centre First policy, the Town Centre First Suite of Supports 2024 and how towns can become involved, visit www.towncentrefirst.ie.

ENDS

Contact:

Media Queries Contact:

The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

01 773 6843 / 086-4618285

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NOTES TO EDITOR:

Our Rural Future

Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2022-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas. The policy’s objectives will be achieved through the delivery of more than 150 commitments to be implemented across a range of government departments and agencies. Economic, social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of Our Rural Future.

Town Centre First

Town Centre First contains 33 unique actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, visit and run a business. Town Regeneration Officers in all relevant Local Authority areas are being funded by the Department to drive forward Town Centre First on a local level.

The National Town Centre First Office is a key driver of Town Centre First, capturing good practice and building the skills and competencies of Town Regeneration Officers, town teams and local authorities to deliver Town Centre First.

Town Regeneration Officers & Town Teams

Town Regeneration Officers support the establishment and ongoing work of Town Teams, providing technical, communications, administrative and project management assistance to Town Teams and supporting key stakeholders in accessing available funding. They are an essential link between Town Teams and the Local Authority.

A Town Team is a group of local residents, business people, community representatives and other stakeholders who come together to make their area a better place to live, work, visit and invest. They represent diverse sectors and backgrounds. They have a unique position in the community to become ‘local experts’ in their area and to take a lead on the development of interventions that can make positive long-term changes for the town.

Selected Towns & Total Funding for the Town Centre First Suite of Supports 2024 Measure 1: Town Centre First Town Team Support Fund

Towns Selected to complete Town Centre First Plans as part of the Town Centre First Suite of Supports 2024