Mr. Paul Hogan:

It is in line with the overall compact growth agenda we have set out in the planning framework. If we are expecting more people to live within existing towns and cities, we must improve their liveability and quality of life. The old-fashioned planning word is "amenity". It is a word that comes up a lot, whether in planning applications or reference to the amenities of a place. However it is described, it is just about things like providing quality public spaces and routes for people to take exercise and clear their heads. There are great examples in the docklands in Dublin, along the river and the quays and also in some of the greenways, particularly the ones in rural areas, but there are ones on the way in urban areas that are taking a little longer to provide. These are important in the context of what we are talking about. There are four funds being assessed on foot of Project Ireland 2040, two of which relate to urban and rural development. To go back to the point raised by Deputy Thomas Pringle about encouraging people to move into towns and villages by choice, the point of the funds is to make a difference, to make it more attractive to develop and invest in urban places, whether cities, towns or villages. Over a period of ten years €2 billion has been committed for urban regeneration and €1 billion for rural regeneration. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is considering the urban fund, while the Department of Rural and Community Development is considering the rural fund. The Department had received 170 or 180 bids before last week's closing date, while the Department of Rural and Community Development had received 300. The things for which the Departments would be looking are exactly what the Senator described such as, for example, investment in public spaces to make places more attractive but also to generate real development and provide for things like water services to improve the capacity of small places. That is very much on the agenda. The Department recognises that people will not change their behaviour by choice and that there must be a degree of prioritisation from an investment perspective.