Liam Lawlor
Ceist:12 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment the criteria he intends to use in the selection of towns and villages for the new Urban and Rural Renewal Programme. [3585/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers. - Village Renewal Scheme.
Noel Dempsey
Ceist:90 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the criteria to be used for the selection of villages and towns for the towns and rural villages renewal scheme; the numbers of towns and villages to be selected; the type of incentives to be used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7222/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 90 together.
Under the urban and village renewal sub-programme of the operational programme on local urban and rural development, grants will be made available to local authorities to carry out environmental upgrading works in towns and villages throughout the country. I have recently issued guidelines to local authorities, giving details of the criteria which will apply to the allocation of resources under the scheme. Briefly, grants will be allocated to local authorities on the basis of action plans which they will prepare. In the case of the five county boroughs, these plans will cover an area within each city selected by the local authority. In other cases, the action plan will be prepared by the county council on a countywide basis.
Action plans will be required to set out a programme of works for environmental upgrading which will contribute to the regeneration of the city, town or village concerned with particular emphasis on job creation potential. They will draw on the local authorities' development plans, where appropriate, and should also take account of the proposals of county enterprise boards, area partnerships, Leader groups and so on.
Proposed works should build on the features and characteristics unique to each village and town. In the case of the village renewal scheme, the works to be supported will have a clear link with agriculture and matching contributions will be expected from the local authorities. Subject to meeting the criteria in the guidelines, the towns and villages to be selected will be decided by the local authorities themselves.
Will the Minister of State clarify whether villages within the city of Dublin will qualify for grants? While it would be difficult to link projects with agriculture in many parts of the city, including Malahide and Howth on the north side and Sandymount, Irishtown. Ringsend, Ranelagh and Rathmines in my own constituency, people are trying to recreate the village atmosphere. Will these qualify for grants?
The Deputy has to accept that it is difficult to combine the concept of living in a city with living in a village at the same time. The purpose of the village renewal sub-programme is to regenerate village communities which have been badly affected by the urban drift. It is a requirement that projects be linked with agriculture given that money will be allocated from the FEOGA fund. It would be difficult to argue that in the villages in the city of Dublin there is a close connection with agriculture. Under the programme each of the cities received its own allocation. These account for a large proportion of the total allocation. Dublin Corporation has defined the areas which should be given priority. If he has a difficulty with its decision, the Deputy will have to argue the case with it. The five flagship projects put forward by the local authorities will benefit considerably under the programme. The definition of "village" is different from what the Deputy has in mind.
While the idea is a good one in that villages will be cleaned up does the Minister of State agree that the local authorities are strapped for cash and unable to provide matching funds? This is in stark contrast with the position in Northern Ireland where villages and towns are being regenerated with funding provided by the DOE. If we had money available we would not spend it on renovating villages but on improving road surfaces.
This programme is targeted specifically at environmental improvements and will not be used for other purposes. I appreciate that particular difficulties are being experienced in the Border counties which I will visit shortly. In the case of cities and towns there is a specific requirement that matching funds be provided but in the case of villages I will be more flexible as I appreciate that small village communities may not be in a position to provide matching funds on a 50:50 basis. However, I will expect a contribution. I also expect the private sector, which will benefit from environmental enhancement as a result of this programme, to make a contribution. If there is a good environment everyone in the community particularly the business community benefits, be it in a city, small town or village.
Will the Minister of State outline the detailed criteria circulated to the local authorities? Deputy Leonard mentioned that they are strapped for cash. My own local authority had to increase expenditure on roads by 19 per cent because of the cut in the road grant. As a consequence there is no spare cash available. Will it be possible for a community group, either on its own or through a local authority, to submit a plan, with a financial contribution, for approval? I got the impression that it will not be possible for it to do so unless the local authority includes the village concerned in its plan. If that is the case, I ask the Minister of State to reconsider. There are many community minded groups throughout the country which would be able to provide matching funds on a 50:50 basis.
I will provide the Deputy and any other Deputy who seeks them with a copy of the guidelines. Under the programme the local authorities, county councils in particular, will draw up an action plan. I do not intend to go over the heads of local authorities in determining the priorities in each county as it would not be wise to do so. I said at the launch of the programme that community groups should be included in consultation and there is a duty on local councils to ensure they take on board proposals from these groups, of which there are many. I requested the chairpersons of local authorities and urban district councils to ensure the democratically elected representatives are included from the beginning. Implicit in the programme is the involvement of local community groups, but that does not mean everybody will be happy because it is a modest programme. In regard to the conservation element, it is possible for civic groups to apply directly for the programme. The whole programme is based on the principle that the local authority draws up an action plan, taking into account the best information available on the ground.
I appreciate it is very difficult to understand how the areas I mentioned would be involved in agriculture, but in urban planning it is important to consider as a whole areas with various interests such as Temple Bar and Smithfield. People in villages around Dublin are trying to develop the identity of those villages. It is important that people identify with a certain area. It would be good urban planning and would cost only a small amount of money to develop this idea.
Perhaps the Deputy would supply the information on agricultural activity that occurs in these villages. I do not know to what extent cattle or pig rearing is carried in the outer ring of Dublin, but if the Deputy provides the information I will be delighted to consider those areas with a view to their qualifying for this money.
Will the Minister say whether a deadline has been notified to the councils by which time they should submit action plans? Will she outline the sources of the matching money — for example, will it be provided from water charges? I understand that 1 per cent of the overall allocation for motorway developments is intended for urban renewal. Will some of that money go towards the matching funding and what are the limitations in this regard? I am not well informed on the criteria involved — local authority members will know more about this matter than I do. Is it envisaged that towns that are congested with heavy traffic will qualify for an urban renewal grant? Will the Minister supply information on the criteria involved?
I would be more than happy to provide the information sought by the Deputy. I intend to ensure that matching funding will not be a problem. One area that is automatically excluded is housing — for example, where a local authority provides housing the project cannot be considered for matching funding. Otherwise there is great flexibility in the system. In regard to towns with specific problems, the guidelines issued are as broad as possible. This is a modest programme which will not resolve all the major problems in terms of heavy traffic in towns, but it may contribute in terms of the environmental impact of traffic, for example, with the carrying out of pedestrianisation. On the question of timing, local authorities have been requested to produce an interim action plan if they do not have all the information compiled by the end of May. I want to proceed with the programme but at the same time I do not want to force local authorities to produce comprehensive five year action plans before all the information is compiled. I have made it clear to local authorities that I want the programme up and running and I will be flexible in the spending of money, which is in everybody's interest.