The Tánaiste announced this week that Athlone, along with four other towns will come under a scheme to tackle dereliction next year.
The Living City Initiative, which is already in place for areas like Cork and Dublin, will now be enacted in Athlone, Sligo, Drogheda, Dundalk and Letterkenny.
The scheme provides targeted tax incentives to encourage investment and bring vacant or underused buildings back into use.
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Local Councillor Aengus O'Rourke says it's a positive scheme for the town to be involved in.
