Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Urban Renewal Scheme.

Mrs. T. Ahearn

The Minister for Finance's announcement in the budget that the urban renewal scheme has been extended to 12 additional urban centres was very welcome but for south Tipperary there was no such good news. I wish to highlight the utter disappointment, frustration and deep anger of the people in Carrick-on-Suir who have been ignored for urban renewal designation.

It is very important that towns that have such an alarming level of unemployment, and the consequent serious social problems, should be considered worthy for urban renewal. Carrick-on-Suir satisfies all the criteria laid down by the Minister for eligibility but its name did not appear on the list. Carrick-on-Suir is surrounded by towns which have been fortunate to be designated as urban renewal areas such as Clonmel, Kilkenny, Waterford and Dungarvan which is included in a new programme. This is having a detrimental effect on Carrick-on-Suir in terms of its commercial and industrial development because the financial incentives are in the surrounding towns. As a result, it is not only having an effect on the level of new development in the town but also on the morale of the people. It is exacerbating to know that any available investment is being diverted to neighbouring towns because the financial advantages dictate that it would be ludicrous to invest in Carrick-on-Suir when much more profit can be made in the neighbouring towns.

The prevailing unemployment level and the recent closure of the leather finishing factory is proof that Carrick-on-Suir will stagnate unless something is done to revitalise the town and to encourage people to invest in development and in commercial businesses. This will not happen unless the Government looks upon Carrick-on-Suir as a town of special need, a town that needs incentives and which will not develop until such time as benefits are given by the Government to it. I plead with the Minister, on behalf of Carrick-on-Suir Urban Council, the business people and the public of the town and the surrounding area to add Carrick-on-Suir's name to the urban renewal scheme.

I have experience of the advantages of the urban renewal scheme. In Clonmel I witness every day the great activity and the ongoing building programme. Thankfully many of the derelict sites have been turned into thriving economic centres. Clonmel is benefiting from urban renewal status at a time of great unemployment. It had the advantage that it had urban renewal status and that is what is keeping it alive. The people of Carrick-on-Suir cannot be expected to watch Kilkenny, Clonmel, Waterford and Dungarvan thrive and progress because of the status they had been granted. The town of Carrick-on-Suir in the centre of this circle cannot be allowed to die — and die it will unless it is granted the urban renewal status that it deserves.

I speak for all the people of Carrick-on-Suir who are waiting to have their town designated. They are making tremendous efforts to promote and encourage investment in their town but that determination will not continue unless they are given urban renewal status. In the interests of exploiting the potential of this fine urban town I urge the Minister to grant it urban renewal status and allow the town to grow and develop and thereby leave the people secure in the knowledge that their future is in their home town. I look forward to a positive response.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Mr. Stagg)

I am conscious of the numerous and well prepared reports and submissions received from various interests in Carrick-on-Suir and other areas seeking designated status for their towns. It is the very limited nature of the urban renewal scheme that has contributed to its success to date.

The urban renewal scheme is based on a wide range of special tax incentives and rates relief for new construction and refurbishment works in areas designated for urban renewal. As I have informed the House on several occasions, it would be counter-productive to make these incentives available on a widespread basis as it would virtually convert the special incentives into standard ones and in doing so would diminish the potential for redevelopment in the areas most in need. A scheme limited in area and time is necessary to focus the attention of potential investors and developers.

The existing urban renewal scheme which was introduced in 1986 originally designated areas in the five major cities, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The scheme has been extended since then to 24 centres throughout the country. While the present scheme expires on 31 July 1994, a new scheme will come into operation on 1 August 1994 and will continue for a period of three years. The scheme will continue to operate in towns already designated and will be extended to small areas in the 12 additional towns of Ballinasloe, Dungarvan, Enniscorthy, Killarney, Mallow, Monaghan, Mullingar, Navan, Nenagh, Newbridge, Roscommon and Wicklow.

In selecting these additional towns for inclusion in the new scheme, factors considered included their size and status, regional considerations, the extent of urban decay, location and general character of the area, potential for redevelopment, the need to promote residential development in core inner areas of our towns and cities, and the historical or architectural significance of the area.

I have no doubt that the cases made for inclusion of Carrick-on-Suir and other places in the scheme are worthwhile but the dilemma is that in a limited scheme such as this, many towns, or indeed areas within towns which have been designated, will have to be left out. There would always be towns which would consider themselves left out regardless of how many areas were designated.

I am satisfied that a good balance has been struck in revising the urban renewal scheme and that a reasonable regional distribution has been achieved. I regret that, given the circumstances that I have just outlined, we were unable to designate areas of Carrick-on-Suir for urban renewal on this occasion. The case made for designating the town will of course be borne in mind in any future review of the position.