Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Urban Renewal Schemes

9:00 pm

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 857: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will announce the level of funding for Limerick regeneration for 2010; when this funding will become available for draw-down by Limerick regeneration; the amount of funding which will be committed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48567/09]

Photo of Michael FinneranMichael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continues to provide significant support for the regeneration project across Limerick City, through ongoing liaison with the Limerick Northside and Southside Regeneration Agencies and with the local authorities in the area. Up to the end of 2009, some €51 million was provided to support the development of the city's integrated regeneration programme, to fund an ambitious schedule of demolition and enabling works, as well as to implement the associated regeneration relocation strategy. In addition, funding was provided for a broad range of much needed social inclusion, community development, and enterprise development initiatives.

On 4 December 2009, my colleague, Minister Gormley, announced that the Government had reaffirmed its commitment to the regeneration programme for Limerick and endorsed the programme's overall vision for a ten-year transformation of the Limerick Regeneration areas. The Government has requested that detailed plans for phase one be completed by the end of the first quarter of this year, setting out the key elements of the programme to be delivered over the course of the first 3 – 5 year period involved, including the investment envisaged by Government Departments and State agencies, as well as the private investment required to underpin the sustainability of the regeneration process.

Within the overall funding available to my own Department for the provision and improvement of social housing for 2010, continued priority will be accorded to Limerick Regeneration. The level of funding to be provided in 2010 will be finalised as soon as possible, taking account of the Regeneration Programme's key deliverables for this year and the overall funding available for regeneration programmes nationally.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 858: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will examine the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) in view of the employment and urban renewal it will bring to Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48593/09]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I am generally precluded under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 from exercising any power or control in relation to any individual matter with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. Under the Planning Acts, as Minister, I may only intervene in the planning process in respect of heritage matters. The planning application for a mixed use development in Drogheda, referred to in the Question, was submitted to me in that context.

The decision of the planning authority to grant planning permission for the development is currently under appeal to An Bord Pleanála and a decision by the Board is awaited. The appeal is under consideration within a statutory process in respect of which An Board Pleanála has charge and authority. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to become involved further in relation to the development at this stage.

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