Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, is encouraging local authorities to put forward proposals under a new call for applications under the Building and Land Acquisition Measure of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

The measure will make up to €13 million available to help local authorities acquire vacant or derelict buildings and sites and bring them back into use as community facilities.

Under the scheme, councils can apply for up to €500,000 and can acquire up to three buildings or sites to redevelop into multi-use community spaces.

Minister Canney said there are opportunities like this in every town: “Most communities can identify a building that’s been empty for years. This is about doing something with those spaces.

“It might be a community hub, a youth space, or somewhere for people to meet but the key thing is that it’s driven by what the local area actually needs.”

The funding, under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, is designed to make our towns and villages more attractive places in which to live, visit, invest and raise a family. Since the launch of the scheme, over €210 million has been allocated to more than 1,900 projects.

This follows on the 2025 Building and Land Acquisition Measure which saw the purchase of former station houses, national schools and town centre sites for future development into useful modern community spaces.

Minister Canney said previous projects show what’s possible: “We’ve seen really good examples where old building have been brought back into use.

“They’re now spaces people are actually using, and that’s what matters.”

He added that local engagement will be key: “The strongest applications are the ones where there’s been real engagement locally. I’d encourage councils to sit down with community groups and identify projects that will genuinely be used and valued.”