Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 3

Written Answers. - Urban Renewal Schemes.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

275 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason Listowel, County Kerry, was not included under the new urban renewal designation which he announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5797/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Designations under the new urban renewal scheme announced last week were based on integrated area plans submitted by local authorities and were in line with recommendations made by an expert advisory panel which I established to assess all of plans submitted.

Guidelines for the new urban renewal scheme made it clear that in selecting areas for the preparation of integrated area plans local authorities were expected to give priority to areas in cities and towns with strong urban characteristics and the highest concentrations of physical decay and socio-economic disadvantage.

Listowel, in common with several other smaller towns, was unsuccessful in getting a recommendation for approval from the expert panel as its size made it impossible for it to meet the criteria for the new scheme and it failed to advance convincing arguments for treatment as a special case. The expert panel found, however, that many of the smaller towns which had not been recommended for designation, contained a significant amount of urban townscape which had deteriorated badly.

The townscape restoration scheme which I announced at the same time is aimed at the restoration and conservation of townscapes in smaller towns. Local authorities, including Kerry County Council, will be asked to submit urban townscape plans by 1 August next. Guidelines are being prepared for issue to local authorities to assist them in preparing plans for this new scheme which is to be introduced in the autumn.