Vol. 481 No. 6
129 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether he has received proposals for urban renewal for Tipperary town; and the plans, if any, he has to include Tipperary town in the scheme. [16780/97]
A number of requests seeking the designation of Tipperary town for urban renewal purposes have been received. However, as the urban renewal scheme introduced in 1994 generally expired on 31 July 1997, except for certain projects in progress which have a further year for completion, the question of extending the scheme to additional areas does not arise.
The Government has approved a framework for a new, more planned and targeted urban renewal scheme which will come into effect on 1 August 1998 when the qualified extension of the current scheme terminates. Cases for designation under the new scheme will be considered on the basis of integrated area plans prepared for priority areas selected by local authorities. Accordingly, the question of the designation of areas in Tipperary town could only be considered should Tipperary South Riding County Council decide, on the basis of the criteria now being finalised, that the town, or part of the town, is in an area for which an integrated area plan should be prepared.
