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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Written Answers. - Urban Renewal Scheme.

Michael Finucane

Question:

173 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will confirm the receipt of an application (details supplied) under the urban renewal scheme; if he will favourably consider the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16230/97]

Michael Finucane

Question:

174 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give details of the guidelines which apply to the urban renewal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16252/97]

Michael Finucane

Question:

175 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether a county which, due to the population of its urban areas has no town which has the population required to meet the population criteria of the urban renewal scheme, could use a grouping of towns to ensure the urban renewal scheme does not discriminate against certain counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16253/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 174 and 175 together.

A new urban renewal scheme will come into operation on 1 August 1998 when the qualified extension of the current scheme expires. The new scheme will largely be based on recommendations made in the consultants' study on the various schemes which have been in operation since 1986. In summary, the scheme will be more targeted than previous schemes, with cases for designation being considered on the basis of integrated area plans to be prepared by local authorities for priority areas.

Draft guidelines for the new scheme were issued to local authorities last June and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Oireachtas Library. Together with the observations received on them, the draft guidelines are now being considered by an expert panel which I established last week to advise me on aspects of the new scheme. The application to which the Deputy refers relates to the guidelines which indicates that towns with a population of less than 6,000 would be likely to have difficulty in meeting the relevant criteria and this together with suggestions about the grouping of small population centres has been passed to the expert panel for consideration. The panel's examination of the draft guidelines and related submissions is now well under way and I expect to be in a position to finalise guidelines very shortly, having regard to the panel's recommendations.
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