Vol. 394 No. 6
asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to announce the changes, if any, in relation to the urban renewal designated areas in the existing urban centres and their possible extension in addition to the inclusion to new urban centres with designated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
47.
asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether the urban renewal designated areas programme has been a success to date; if so, when he proposes to (1) increase the areas of the existing designated urban areas and (2) extend designations to additional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 47 together. The urban renewal programme has been very successful. It has generated considerable redevelopment in the designated areas excluding the Customs House Docks Development, some £30 million of work has been completed, and projects under construction and in planning amount in value to some £110 million and £170 million respectively.
In addition, I allocated the £2 million in grants during 1989 towards works by local authorities designed to upgrade the environment of the designated areas and to complement private sector activity. A further £2 million will be provided for this purpose in 1990.
I have already indicated the proposal to extend designation for urban renewal to a number of new areas in Dublin city, north and south, and to parts of eight new urban areas outside Dublin. Details of this proposal are being finalised with a view to completing the necessary orders under the Urban Renewal Act, 1986.
First, I should like to join with the Minister in recognising that the designated areas concept has been a success, however slow it was to get off the ground. In respect of the Minister's reply may I ask him when he will be in a position to convey to the eight new urban areas the announcement that they will be included, for the first time, as designated areas and when the new extended areas in relation to the Dublin city region — and perhaps other regions as well of which I am not aware — will be announced?
It is now at a very advanced stage and it is my intention to do both together in January.
Will the Minister's announcement take account of the requirement for the extension of timetables in relation to qualification?
The extension of the present deadline to May 1991 is one of the difficulties in relation to this matter. As the Deputy is aware, the deadline was extended for the five county boroughs in 1987. I want to have the right sort of balance and I do not want people to think they have a longer time available and that they need not hurry the development. It is my intention to carefully consider what we can do to assist those who are contemplating starting now and who might not be in a position to finish by the deadline, thereby causing us to lose the investment.
Will the Minister say if these announcements will be made in conjunction with the budget or separately?
They will be made separately.
In advance of the budget?
I would like to make the announcements before the budget if possible as I do not see any necessity to couple them with the budget.
Has the Minister any plans for the establishment of structures or mechanisms which would involve the communities in the areas designated for urban renewal to enable them to become involved in the redesign and renewal of their areas? I should like to ensure that local communities are not squeezed out of those areas to make way for new — perhaps wealthier — people buying up property in the area.
I do not think that will happen because the lines are drawn by the local authorities and the local representatives have a very keen interest in the matter. Inevitably they want a bigger area than it is possible to incorporate in that designated area but we must keep the principle of regenerating derelict areas in existing cities and towns in mind. There has been good co-operation in this regard and I should like local representative involvement to be maintained in the whole question of renewal.
