Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2024
179. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding available to the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund; when the next call for funding will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20055/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was one of four new funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027. Launched in 2018 with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion the review of the NDP in 2021 extended the URDF to 2030.
To date, there have been three rounds of funding provided under the URDF with more than €1.9 billion allocated so far. While Call 1 and 2 was for specific proposals, the latest round of funding (Call 3) is supporting a programme of acquisitions in each local authority to address long term vacancy and dereliction. Under Call 1 and Call 2 there were 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 projects, approved for funding.
Subject to additional funding being made available, it is intended to launch a fourth round of funding support in 2024. A fourth round of funding would provide an opportunity for a number of ‘pipeline’ projects which have or will emerge from master planning exercises carried out under Call 1 or Call 2 to be considered for funding. It would also support a number of key settlements that have not yet received the level of funding required to support the growth proposed for them in the NPF and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.
By targeting support in an integrated, dynamic and responsive way, the fund has proved to be a game changer, injecting momentum into the advancement of local authority plans for regeneration and development of our towns and cities, with URDF supported projects now active in every local authority area in the country.
180. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to accommodate those who will be undertaking remediation of their properties under the defective block scheme in Clare; if he is considering side-by-side building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20059/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on the 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on the 29 June 2023.
Under the Scheme, temporary alternative accommodation for defective concrete block homeowners is addressed, whereby vouched accommodation costs are an allowable cost within the scheme, subject to a maximum of €15,000 per household in the event that the applicant has to move out when remediation works are ongoing. Removal of contents/house components and their temporary storage and reinstatement on completion are also an allowable cost, subject to a maximum of €5,000.
The scheme facilitates the remediation of existing houses that have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks, but not the construction of separate additional houses on adjoining sites. The construction of new separate additional houses will not be grant funded.
