John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue I wish to raise today is one that I have spoken about in recent months and it concerns urban regeneration funding. I raise the issue because I would appreciate it, were the Leader to convey to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the urgency of the need to make a decision on urban regeneration projects around the country. I will use the examples of Bridge Street and Linenhall Street in Dundalk to illustrate why it is so important to at least have the outcome of the decision made known to the local authority and to people in Dundalk.

Louth County Council submitted substantial further evidence and information in April 2020 on why this particular project is so important for the north end of Dundalk town. It is nearly one year into that process and there has been no response from the Minister yet. It is important for the council to get a response because it needs to know whether it has been successful. It not, Louth County Council will need to look at where the project went wrong in order that it can make the necessary additions to make it successful when the urban regeneration fund opens up again in the future.

I am raising this issue to ask the Leader of the House to convey to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the urgency of a decision being made at least in order that the council can determine where it will go from there. The council has been waiting around for too long now. I fully accept and understand that Covid-19 restrictions have slowed the process down but I would appreciate it if the Leader could convey the urgency to the Minister. The decision needs to be made to let the council know whether it has been successful. The situation does not just apply to my own town. It is the same for many other provincial towns around the country that are awaiting this announcement.