Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how the regeneration in County Limerick can proceed successfully when both regeneration boards are to be merged into Limerick county councils. [37552/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government remains fully committed to the regeneration of disadvantaged areas of our cities and towns including the areas of Moyross, St Mary's Park, Southill and Ballinacurra/Weston in Limerick City. I intend to make sufficient funding available under the 2012 capital allocations to ensure that real progress is made in implementing regeneration projects in these areas.

The integration of the regeneration programme into the new unitary local authority to be established in Limerick was proposed by the Limerick Local Government Review Group following a broad and comprehensive engagement with stakeholders, including those directly involved with the regeneration process. The Group was specifically charged with considering how the existing structures could be improved and/or strengthened to the advantage of the wider Limerick area, having particular regard to the importance of the regeneration process.

Following this extensive review, there is a strong commitment at local level to making the process work. My Department is committed to working closely with the Regeneration Agencies and other stakeholders so that the progress made to date is sustained and built upon. I am satisfied that the amalgamation of the Agencies with the new unitary Council will benefit rather than hinder the regeneration effort.

Clearly, there are significant resource advantages to the proposed change as the regeneration project will have access to the full resources available within the reformed local government system in areas such as planning, transport and infrastructure, environmental services, community and enterprise etc.

It is also the case that under the Agencies' Establishment Orders their term of operation is due to end in June 2012. The new arrangements will facilitate continuity in the programme as it moves further into the critical implementation phase.