Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will expand the living city initiative to special regeneration areas in county towns such as Ennis in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43712/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Living City Initiative, which was enacted by Finance Act 2013, and commenced on 5 May 2015, has been extended beyond the original pilot cities of Limerick and Waterford, to include the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kilkenny. In line with my Department's commitment to evidence based policy-making, the inclusion of these additional four cities followed consultation with the relevant city councils and a comprehensive, independent ex-ante cost benefit analysis. Specific criteria were set down in respect of the areas which should be included within the remit of the Living City Initiative, which were required to be taken into account by the relevant city councils when putting forward the proposed Special Regeneration Areas for each city.

It is important to note that I do not see this as a wide-spread Initiative and I do not currently intend to extend it further than the six cities. However, I will closely monitor the progress of the Initiative and will keep the matter of any potential extension of it under review.