Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2018
701. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the next steps for projects (details supplied); when funding will be made available to the promoters; the estimated completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50379/18]
View answerThe Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched as part of Project Ireland 2040, to support the compact growth and sustainable development of Ireland’s five cities, regional drivers and other large urban centres. I initiated the first call for proposals under the Fund in July 2018 and the deadline for submission of applications was 28 September. A total of 189 applications were submitted to my Department and on 26 November I announced the successful applicants for funding, details of which are available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/urdf_-_2019_funding_allocations_0.pdf .
The URDF is a competitive, bid-based exchequer grant programme, with €2 billion in National Development Plan (NDP) funding available to 2027. The URDF grant in respect of the proposal in question, as with all other successful bid proposals, has been approved in principle subject to agreement of subsequent technical details with my Department and may be regarded as an initial investment of support for a significant town centre urban renewal project, which is envisaged to progress through 2019 and 2020.
My Department intends to further engage with the applicant in order to discuss the progression of the proposal in 2019 and onwards and to agree on the terms of the funding allocation which, once agreed, will be drawn down from throughout 2019.
