Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2024
559. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if provision has been made to continue the Economic and Social Intervention Fund in Limerick in 2025 and beyond, given that it is a critical instrument to help address disadvantage in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44269/24]
View answerMy Department currently supports a programme of large-scale regeneration projects in Limerick, Dublin and Cork
These regeneration projects target the country’s most disadvantaged communities, and seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration.
The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP) was adopted by the then Limerick City Council in February 2014. This plan set out a programme of physical, social and economic interventions over a ten-year period from 2014 to 2023.
A key element of the LRFIP was the Economic and Social Intervention Fund, (ESIF), and over the ten year period of the LRFIP (2014 to 2023) approximately €36m has been made available to Limerick City and Council from my Department. This fund supports a range of social and economic initiatives to strengthen the local communities in the target areas of Moyross, Ballinacurra Weston, St Mary’s Park and Southill.
This fund is an integral part of the overall approach to regeneration, and helps to leverage additional mainstream funding for the benefit of the areas. Through ESIF, my Department provides initial seed funding to launch programmes under the following categories:
• Community
• Education and Learning
• Families and Youth at Risk
• Employability and Work
• Health, Well Being and Aging Well
At the conclusion of the LRFIP at the end of 2023 my Department agreed to extend ESIF funding for 2024. My Department has also agreed to continue funding of the ESIF for 2025 and would welcome a submission from Limerick City and County Council in this regard.
