Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if amended plans have been submitted regarding the Northside and Southside Regeneration of Limerick; if not, when they will be considered; the funding that has been set aside in 2010 for Limerick Regeneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20444/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2009, the Government re-affirmed 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 also requested that the Limerick Regeneration Agencies prepare a detailed plan for the first phase of the implementation process. A proposed Phase One Implementation Plan was completed and adopted by the Agencies' Boards in April. This has since been provided to my Department, and will be submitted to Government shortly.

The Phase 1 plan provides a road map for, in particular, the physical, as well as the social and economic, regeneration of these communities for the period to December 2014, with a total estimated cost of public projects amounting to some €337 million. It proposes strategic infrastructure projects of benefit to the wider Limerick region, and other key community facilities for the regeneration areas. The Plan identifies a range of new housing projects for each of the areas, as well as refurbishment and infill projects to retain certain areas of existing good quality housing. The plan also notes the importance of delivering mixed tenure housing, and the clustering of projects in the various phases to deliver new communities, within the wider strategic planning context.

In terms of enterprise development, the plan identifies an opportunity for the regeneration to act as a catalyst for economic development in the region. It specifically proposes a focus on developing "green industries" in the areas. The Agencies have identified a range of funding and investment considerations and the Inter-Departmental Group, established to review options for the incentivisation of the essential private investment required to underpin the overall success of the regeneration programme, will work to advance a package of measures to deliver such investment.

With investment of over €50 million in Limerick regeneration to date, I am providing a further €25 million from my Department's 2010 Vote for a programme of enabling works, including relocation, acquisitions, demolition and site clearances, community stabilisation, and social inclusion activities. Work is progressing on the detailed planning and design of two "new build" housing projects which will provide up to 100 new homes, primarily for older people living in the Moyross and Ballinacurra Weston areas, with a view to advancing these projects to tender in 2010. Design work is also underway on two similar projects for Southill and St. Mary's Park.

My Department's funding is supplemented by significant additional investment from other Departments and State Agencies, in terms of both Garda resources and other State interventions in the areas of education, youth, sport, health, training, childcare and community facilities. This whole of Government approach, essential for delivery of successful regeneration, will continue to be at the centre of our work on the implementation plan for the Limerick regeneration programme.