Martin Heydon Fine Gael TD for Kildare South and Chairman of Fine Gael’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee has today (Friday) said that he is continuing to push for a grant scheme for owners of rundown and derelict buildings in regional towns and villages as part of this years budget.
“I have again spoken to Minister for Finance Michael Noonan this week on my proposal to emphasize the need for financial investment to help to revitalize the centres of regional towns and villages as part of the recovery and explaining the benefits I see in it.
“The provision of grants to renovate old and unused buildings would go a long way to help to restore vitality to town centres. It would have the added benefit of creating additional much needed living space over town centre buildings and shops to help to ease the current housing crisis. Such investment would bring activity back to town centres even after hours when shops have closed.
” I will continue to push for this as I believe such investment is needed and would help to spread the recovery out to regional areas.”