Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairperson, Senator Boyhan.

I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for her ongoing interest in this issue and, indeed, for tabling this important Commencement matter.

I visited the markets with Senator Fitzpatrick not so long ago. I am acutely aware of them. I visited them when I was much younger when they were a bustling place that was full of life, full of enterprise and an important part of the north inner city.

By way of a little background, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund is a cornerstone of the Government's response to ensure that right across the country, no less so than here in Dublin, we are providing funding to the local authorities directly to regenerate and rejuvenate areas such as the Victorian fruit and vegetable markets in St. Mary's Lane.

To date, the Government has committed €1.7 billion of Exchequer funding to move forward with projects. I have had the pleasure of seeing in a number of areas right across the country, such as in Kilkenny, Tralee and Limerick, where this funding is already being drawn down and used to deliver significant regeneration works that are driving enterprise in those areas. In Kilkenny, for example, in the Abbey quarter, there will be 450 new jobs in that space. I want to see Dublin City Council, DCC, do the same.

We have allocated to DCC in call 1 approximately €190 million for projects in the north inner city. I have sought an update from Dublin City Council, which informs me that it is developing the preliminary business case for the north inner city concept area 1 project in line with requirements. I am being told I will receive that in the coming weeks. I want that in the coming weeks. The "coming weeks" should be by the end of July. If I need to sit down and meet the city council in this regard with Senator Fitzpatrick, I will certainly do that.

St. Mary's Lane in Dublin 7 is a sub-project of the larger urban regeneration project providing significant investment in the rejuvenation of Dublin's north inner city. With Senator Fitzpatrick's support, and insistence, and rightly so, we allocated €5.625 million specifically for the Victorian fruit and vegetable market sub-project.

I am informed that the local authority has now appointed a conservation specialist who will identify works, methodology and specifications for refurbishment and conservation works because it is an important building. That will ensure the highest standard of protection for the structure. I am being told that this report is also due in the coming weeks. I want to see definitive timelines on this, not ones that are open to interpretation. On completion of the report, the local authority will procure a design team and contractor to complete the conservation works.

I am strongly encouraging Dublin City Council to expedite the process here. It has appointed a conservation specialist. Let us see how quickly that work can be done. There have been previous plans. We do not need to reinvent the wheel on this issue.

I want to see that area of Dublin, in particular, the markets, being a living and working space that is full of life and that will breathe life into that area. I am taking a personal interest in this particular project. With the significant moneys that we have allocated, I want to see those moneys drawn down by DCC and being put to active use, as I am seeing in other parts of the country.