Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
910. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether Mayo County Council has submitted a request to progress sub-projects (details supplied) independently; if so, what the implications for the funding allocations are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38445/23]
View answer911. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the current status of URDF funding provided to Mayo County Council; the stages for each project associated with three projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38446/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 910 and 911 together.
In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is currently providing part-funding to applicant-led projects, enabling more compact and sustainable development within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns.
To this end, the URDF has already provisionally allocated in excess of €1.6 billion under two separate calls for proposals since its inception in 2018. Providing assistance to 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 subprojects, URDF projects are now active in every local authority area in the country.
In 2021, following the second call for proposals under the URDF, I announced a provisional allocation of €11,027,500 in URDF support for Mayo County Council's two successful projects - Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative Project (€8,527,500) and Castlebar Military Barracks Project (€2,500,000).
This followed Mayo County Council's successful applications under the first call for proposals in 2018, where a total of €8,371,221 in URDF support was approved for the Ballina Innovation Quarter project (€6,232,173), the Castlebar Urban Greenway Link project (€1,997,658) and the Castlebar Military Barracks project (€141,391).
A Preliminary Business Case for each of the Call 2 projects was approved by my Department in 2022. This represents Decision Gate 1 in the project lifecycle of the Public Spending Code and gives approval to Mayo County Council to proceed to the development of a Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy for submission to the department as part of the approval process for the next decision gate (Decision Gate 2 – Pre Tender Approval).
Regarding the progression of subprojects independently, my Department has been actively encouraging local authorities to consider such an approach, with URDF funding for successful proposals allocated individually to each subproject under Call 2. Such an approach should help expedite project delivery. In relation to the Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative Project, which contains 6 subprojects, in order to expedite delivery the Council notified the Department in July 2023 of its intention to progress a number of subprojects independently, including The Old Post Office subproject. This approach is supported by my Department.
The Castlebar Military Barracks Project approved under Call 2 is a follow on element to the related master plan that was funded under Call 1. The project aims to finalise the Scheme Design and to bring the overall project through the Part 8 planning process, while also undertaking basic essential enabling works to existing buildings on site.
The Department understands that Mayo County Council is currently developing Detailed Project Briefs and Procurement Strategies (Decision Gate 2) for all subprojects within the Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative proposal and the Castlebar Military Barracks Project.
While my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Mayo County Council in respect of project funding, responsibility for the advancement of these URDF supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the Sponsoring Agency, Mayo County Council. Any queries regarding the timeline of the projects should be directed to the Council.
