I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 339 together.
I am pleased that the Government has committed a total of €240 million under the 2010 estimates for the Local Authority Estate Regeneration and Remedial Works programme, including a new Energy Efficiency/Retrofitting provision of €45m. This represents a significant increase on the 2009 provision of €190m, reflecting the importance I attach to protecting and improving the fabric of the existing local authority housing stock as well as supporting an ambitious programme of regeneration projects, both large and small, across the country. This increased provision will enable me to continue to prioritise the requirements of the Limerick Regeneration Programme when allocations for individual programmes for 2010 are being made early next year.
In this regard, I particularly welcome the recent Government decision to endorse the overall vision for a ten year transformation of the Limerick Regeneration areas set out in the Limerick Regeneration Programme. The Government has requested the relevant Departments and Agencies to complete the remaining work required to finalise the Programme by the end of the first quarter of 2010, for final consideration by the Government at that stage. Work will now advance on a range of issues, particularly in relation to the detailed costings and phasing of the implementation of the Programme, and the mechanisms to leverage essential private investment in the areas, in order to deliver, in a sustainable manner, the much needed integrated physical, social and economic regeneration of the combined Regeneration areas. My Department, the Regeneration Agencies, the relevant local authorities and the wider range of Government Departments and State Agencies involved will be working intensively on this over the next few months.
