Vol. 477 No. 2
126 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment the progress, if any, being made with the application for Balbriggan, County Dublin, to be included in the urban renewal scheme in view of the fact that improvements have been stifled and businesses have suffered over a long period of traffic congestion when the narrow streets took the full weight of vehicles on the Dublin-Belfast road. [8744/97]
An overall review of the urban renewal schemes, as they have operated to date, is currently under way. As part of the review, a consultants' study of the impact of the schemes in economic, social and architectural terms has been completed and published and a process of public consultation in relation to the study's conclusions and recommendations is now in its final stages. Copies of the study are available in the Oireachtas Library.
There are no proposals at this stage to extend the present urban renewal scheme to any additional areas. It would be inappropriate to consider what new areas, if any, might be suitable for designation as part of any future scheme until general policy in relation to the next phase of urban renewal is determined in the light of the review.
