Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Butler for raising this issue. The URDF is focused on supporting projects that will assist regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland's five cities and other large towns and enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed use development to deliver within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and towns. I reiterate that we are very supportive of the project. It will ensure that more parts of rural urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people can choose to live and work as well as enabling them to be able to win greater investment and make it more attractive to visit.

In keeping with the aim of the national planning framework and Project Ireland 2040 more widely, the URDF represents a more enlightened approach to the provision of Government support and a movement away from silo policies, thinking and funding of the past, which has held back many of our cities and towns. Through the fund we offer targeted integrated support for innovative holistic solutions to the issues that for too long have prevented the regeneration and rejuvenation of our cities and towns. It is anticipated that the continuation of the URDF in 2020 and beyond will facilitate a greater focus on integrated urban projects such as the north quays in Waterford, as these proposals require sufficient time for design, planning, procurement and construction to be advanced properly. The Government is only one of the stakeholders and Deputy Butler mentioned some of the others. It is important that we are seen as part of the funding mechanism. The taxpayer cannot facilitate all of it. The fund is about making it happen and giving the Government's stamp of approval. It is all about releasing other matched funding.

As I indicated earlier, the Department has already engaged with Waterford City and County Council and will continue to do so to discuss the progression of the proposal in 2019 and onwards, with the intention of agreeing the project composition with regard to URDF support and future funding allocations. We do see the importance of this for the city, the south-east region and the regions beyond it and for achieving our aims in Project Ireland 2040.

I am conscious that the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is sitting beside me. We can look back over the past seven or eight years at the support we have given to and the focus we have put on the south-east area and the city of Waterford, starting with the Action Plan for Jobs and the south-east plan for jobs. The employment situation in that area has been transformed. We recognise there is still more work to do to complete this journey and to future-proof the area so it can continue to win investment and jobs. People have to see there has been a strong commitment to the south-east region over the past seven or eight years from the Government because we are committed to it. I want to say on the record that we are committed to it through this funding model in the years ahead.

Another example of this is the recent announcement of support for the regional airport. I am surprised by a lot of the commentary around it. To me it was a very wise decision. Regional airports transform an area. Kerry is a prime example and we can also look at Knock. The local commentary was positive but did not take on the national commentary questioning the logic behind it. It makes total and utter sense, certainly when it releases other supportive funding from other stakeholders and brings in private capital. We get best value for taxpayers' money through using it to match private money. We have always said a mixture of public and private enterprise coming together to drive an area is key but people seem to knock it. The Deputy should be making it very clear so people see the commitment to Waterford city and county and the surrounding region.

See this speech in context