Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for debate. I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, in the Chamber. Ennis is the capital town of County Clare and the largest town in Munster, with a population of more than 25,000 people. Ennis town centre is distinguished by its medieval character exemplified by narrow streets, laneways and traditional buildings, all of which are complemented by the natural qualities of the River Fergus which flows through the town. Clare County Council recently concluded a document entitled Ennis 2040, an economic and spatial strategy for the town to 2040. Having fed into this report through various workshops, I was most grateful to receive a briefing from the director of services and the senior planner on the completed policy document a few weeks ago. It is anticipated that this economic and spatial strategy will be formally launched in the coming weeks. I am confident that implementation of this plan will strengthen Ennis in its role as a key economic driver and major tourist destination in the mid-west region.

Rejuvenation and enhancement programmes are essential for any civic spaces. The establishment of the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, by the last Fine Gael-led Government has given local authorities such as Clare County Council an opportunity to secure the necessary funding to address the shortcomings in town centre public realms. One of the first projects to benefit under the newly established urban regeneration and development fund was the regeneration of Parnell Street in Ennis, along with the extensive network of lanes and bow-ways off the street. Work commenced on this important project last July and I am happy to report that the contractors are making great progress.

A number of months ago, Clare County Council lodged a further ambitious urban regeneration and development fund application to further deal with the public realm issues in Ennis. These plans were informed by a process of public consultation, stakeholder engagement and technical design studies. This project is effectively the last piece in the jigsaw. The areas covered by the proposal are Barrack Street, Old Barrack Street, O'Connell Square, High Street and Old Connell Street. O'Connell Square houses an iconic statue of Daniel O'Connell and is one of the most important public spaces in Ennis town centre. Public events of all natures have taken place here, from political rallies to sets danced at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. High Street, Bank Place and Barrack Street lead off the square while O'Connell Street is the principal shopping street in Ennis, with standout award-winning shops, bars and restaurants.

This is a most important application and a critical scheme for the town of Ennis. I hope the Minister of State and his Department's officials will give this key rejuvenation scheme favourable consideration, particularly after the devastating fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic on Ennis and surrounding areas.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Carey for raising the issue of this very important application under the urban regeneration and development fund. He has consistently raised the merits of this project with my office over recent months. Project Ireland 2040, which was launched by the Government on 16 February 2018, is the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. It includes a detailed capital investment plan for the period from 2018 to 2027, the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the 20-year national planning framework, NPF. The principles of the NPF are underpinned by the national development plan, NDP, a ten-year €116 billion capital investment programme. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 established four new funds, with a combined allocation of €4 billion to 2027. The URDF has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027, primarily to support the NPF's growth enablers for the five cities and other large urban centres, such as Ennis.

The URDF, which was launched in 2018, is providing part-funding for local authority-led projects that will enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns while also ensuring that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work as well as to invest in and visit.

Too many of our large towns and cities have been blighted by run-down and poorly utilised areas. Through this urban regeneration and development fund support, local authorities now have the opportunity to embrace the challenge of harnessing the untapped potential of these areas so that they contribute positively to our urban communities.

The URDF-supported capital programme has been very well received and already the URDF is providing assistance for a pipeline of major projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland's five cities and other large towns. The URDF provides planning authorities with the opportunity to co-ordinate their planned regeneration and rejuvenation of our large towns and cities with a stream of tailored significant Exchequer capital investment for the first time, which will ensure that the right project is happening in the right place at the right time.

In 2019 approval in principle and provisional funding allocations issued in respect of the 87 major projects across the country, including projects in Ennis, which were approved under the first call. The Deputy mentioned this when referring to the jigsaw which we are now trying to complete. Some €3.85 million in URDF support has been allocated to support rejuvenation and enhancement as part of the Ennis town centre public realm regeneration programme, which involves extensive works at Parnell Street and the network of lanes and bow-ways in the medieval core of Ennis town.

Under the second call of the URDF, which was launched earlier this year, 76 proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application. One of these was a proposal from Clare County Council for further support in respect of Ennis town centre public realm regeneration, which Deputy Carey has mentioned. Many of the proposals received under this second call are of significant scale and complexity and require careful evaluation. This process is ongoing in my Department.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his update, his response and his knowledge of this particular issue. When does he expect a decision to be arrived at with regard to URDF applications? He said that there had been 76 applications nationwide. This is a key application made by Clare County Council. It is the final piece of the jigsaw. It is underpinned by public consultation, engagement with a number of stakeholders and technical and design studies. It is a really good project located in the heart of Ennis on the main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street and O'Connell Square. A positive result for this project would give a great lift to Ennis. I hope the Minister of State is in a position to visit County Clare and to turn the sod on this development in the new year. Perhaps he could give an early Christmas present to Ennis tonight in his reply.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Minister of State commit the funds before he turns the sod?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Carey and the Ceann Comhairle. I acknowledge the great amount of work the Deputy has put into supporting this project and into articulating its merits. My office has received numerous items of correspondence specifically outlining how important this project is to Ennis and its merits. I assure the Deputy that all his representations will be taken on board. This is obviously a key funding stream for rural Ireland and we hope that we can complete the jigsaw, as the Deputy has put it. It is very important that we do just that.

I can give the Deputy a firm commitment that all his representations are being taken on board by my Department and my office. Regeneration funding is about unlocking the potential in our regional towns and cities to ensure they get the chance to grow. In the coming months, as private investment in our economy will be weak, we need a robust public investment to make up for that. The URDF will be a key enabler to our regions to do that. I assure the Deputy that the key points he made tonight will get the highest attention. I look forward to working with him to complete this jigsaw for Ennis.