Urban Development
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-21
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Dara Calleary (FF), Mayo

I like the concept of the village heart. We have worked and models in Fingal, St. Margaret's, Rush and Ballyboughal. We ensured funding under town and village renewal. They are more rural villages and meet the population criteria. I have asked my officials to examine those examples with a view to a pilot. I cannot comment on budget 2027. It is far too early to actually comment on it but regardless of budget, we have to look at the schemes and protect those suburban villages and protect their heart. It is also a good time to ensure that the Deputy's communities know the community centre investment fund is open to them for the refurbishment part, which offers up to €100,000. That opens in the next week
The community recognition fund has invested in community projects across Dublin, within the inner city but also within communities. I had a good visit with the Deputy to Castleknock Community Centre and saw the amazing work being done there through community employment and other schemes. We are very much working on this. The town centre first policy should do what it says on the tin, and it is for towns and villages regardless of where they are.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:58+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-21