The Government has announced that it is providing €120m of funding under Ireland's two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes to transform derelict heritage buildings in town centres.

THRIVE, the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme, was launched by Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Kieran O'Donnell TD. It has been co-designed by the Regional Assemblies and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address European, national and regional policy objectives. THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Through THRIVE local authorities will receive funding between €2m and €7m to renovate, refurbish and adapt vacant and derelict heritage buildings in their town centres.

Buildings included in the scheme are categorised as heritage structures, which are integral to architectural heritage and possess distinctive architectural, historical, archaeological, or artistic attributes. They may also be associated with the cultural and economic history of a particular area.

Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell said: "I welcome the launch of the new €120m THRIVE Scheme under the ERDF Regional Programmes. This is an exciting scheme that will breathe new life into towns and urban centres across Ireland, so that they can function as the sustainable and vibrant heart of the communities they serve. At the heart of this is the Town Centre First approach. This ensures that local authorities engage with their citizens to develop plans, select suitable projects, and identify sustainable and viable end uses for underutilised heritage buildings. I look forward to seeing the transformative impact in these centres and the benefits this will have in driving regeneration in the years ahead."

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Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said: "This announcement demonstrates the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s commitment to heritage-led regeneration and tackling vacancy as part of the delivery of the Town Centre First policy. This vital funding will support local authorities to conserve and protect our valuable built heritage, but also by ensuring the long-term sustainable re-use of these buildings and helping us meet our climate change targets."

Cathaoirleach of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, Cllr John Naughten said: "I believe that THRIVE will go a long way towards kickstarting development in our region by turning our town centres into attractive spaces for people to live and work and visit. THRIVE will promote a citizen-centred and community-led approach to planning and design while also preserving the unique cultural significance of our heritage buildings."

Cathaoirleach of the Southern Regional Assembly, Cllr Terry Shannon said: "THRIVE has the potential to transform our town centres by adapting and reusing vacant and derelict heritage buildings and allowing us to create beautiful, sustainable and inclusive spaces to improve the quality of life of our citizens. THRIVE provides the opportunity to rejuvenate our heritage buildings to meet the modern and innovative requirements of our communities today."

Initiatives must align with the fundamental principles of the New European Bauhaus, emphasising sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion. The program advocates for a citizen-centric, community-driven approach to planning, design, and project selection, operating within the Town Centre First framework. Grants ranging from €40,000 to €200,000 are provided to assist local authorities in the planning and design stages.