Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In support of balanced regional development, the National Development Plan 2007-2013 proposes to enhance the growth capacity of the nine Gateway cities and towns, designated under the National Spatial Strategy, and to strengthen their role as drivers of the development of their wider regions. As an incentive to stimulate and reward joined-up strategies and action at Gateway level, a Gateway Innovation Fund (GIF) is being established under this NDP to help fund targeted strategic investments that can trigger the accelerated development of the Gateways and their wider regions. The Fund will operate initially on a pilot basis over the three-year period (2008-2010) with €100m of Exchequer funding being made available per annum for qualifying proposals. Lead local authorities, on behalf of each of the Gateways, will be expected to bid on a competitive and — added-value — basis for central funding for projects that stimulate Gateway development, with a significant element of co-funding to be provided locally. After this initial pilot phase, the Fund will be subject to review, and may be continued over the remaining NDP period.

Under the management of my Department, bids will be evaluated centrally by a broadly representative GIF Management Committee which will assess independently whether the proposals are consistent with the agreed Gateway development strategies, and are critical in leveraging accelerated and co-ordinated gateway development. The precise operational details of the Fund are being drawn up by my Department, in consultation with the Minister for Finance, and will be disseminated to the relevant local authorities in the coming weeks.

The Gateway Innovation Fund will be additional to the significant NDP capital investment already envisaged under the major sectoral investment programmes for the NSS Gateways and Hubs. I am confident that this dedicated funding line to encourage and accelerate Gateway development will be a powerful instrument in rewarding innovation and cooperation at local level from all the stakeholders in the Gateway, including local authorities, State agencies and the private sector.