Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Urban Renewal Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 December 2018

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Ceisteanna (308, 309)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

308. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason a project (details supplied) was excluded from the urban regeneration and development fund. [51052/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

309. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount allocated for a project (details supplied) under the urban regeneration and development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51053/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.

The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched as part of Project Ireland 2040, to support the compact growth and sustainable development of Ireland’s five cities, regional drivers and other large urban centres. I initiated the first call for proposals under the Fund in July 2018 and the deadline for submission of applications was 28 September. A total of 189 applications were submitted to my Department and on 26 November I announced the successful applicants for funding, details of which are available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/urdf_-_2019_funding_allocations_0.pdf.

There were two categories of submission, Category A for projects that were 'ready to go' and Category B to support the initial development of projects (Master-planning/Feasibility) to ensure a pipeline of projects into the future as the URDF is a rolling fund, with €2 billion available to 2027. The fund in the initial call was oversubscribed in both categories (A & B).

The URDF grant in respect of the successful proposal in question, as with all other successful bid proposals, has been approved in principle subject to agreement of subsequent technical details with my Department and may be regarded as an initial investment of support for the project. Given that this is a Category B proposal, my Department intends to further engage with the applicant in order to discuss the progression of the proposal in 2019 and onwards and to agree on the terms of the funding allocation which, once agreed, will be drawn down from throughout 2019.

With regard to the unsuccessful proposal referred to, there were a group of projects that were not eligible or recommended due to the following general reasons:

(i) The proposal did not respond to core assessment criteria of the fund or the quality of the proposal was low;

(ii) The proposal was a routine capital project more related to other capital funding sources available by another department or agency;

(iii) The proposal was already commercially viable and would be better supported by market response; and

(iv) The proposal was not in compliance with state aid or the additionality factor/wider leveraging of the project was in question (Value for Money).

There were also those projects that, while not recommended at this time given the criteria above, were considered worthwhile if further developed. Such an approach was adopted to facilitate a continual pipeline of projects (Category B) for potential re-submission in subsequent calls for proposals.

In this regard, it is my intention to announce a second call for proposals early in 2019. My Department proposes to provide feedback in this regard and will engage further with applicants as appropriate.

Barr
Roinn