Town centre first policy
Deputy Francis Noel Duffy raised the town centre first policy as a way to revive towns, support housing and align with the 15-minute city concept. The Minister strongly agreed and linked it to bypasses, housing and low-carbon regeneration.
The programme for Government commits to the development of the town centre first policy. Revitalising our towns through the town centre first model will make them more livable and viable. It will create employment and bring people back to living in the heart of our towns in line with the 15-minute city concept. The Green Party supports a sustainable and progressive vision for rural Ireland. The town centre first model is at the core of this vision. I understand the town centre first interdepartmental advisory group is due to publish its recommendations for the Government to consider this month. Will the Minister give an update on the work the interdepartmental advisory group is doing? Can he provide a timeline for when we might see the recommendations being implemented?
Comment on this
I absolutely agree with the Deputy on the potential benefits of the town centre first strategy. Following on from the earlier discussion, building bypasses and bringing life back into the centre of towns is such an attractive prospect because it is a wonderful way of addressing our housing crisis. Getting families and young people back living in towns means they can access services. The 15-minute city concept is also a 15-minute town concept. Refurbishing beautiful historic buildings and bringing them back in a variety of different ways is going to be a much more economical, low-carbon and socially progressive way for the State to bring back communities. That sense of living within the centre of that community, of that town, is something we can turn around. I understand the working group is due to complete at the end of July or in that time period. There are four working groups which are close to completing their work. I look forward to delivering it.