Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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42. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the urban regional development fund for Letterkenny, County Donegal. [38369/20]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Under Call 1 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Donegal County Council was allocated €1,942,536 in respect of the development of a Regeneration Strategy, strategic site acquisition and public realm works relating to the advancement of ‘Letterkenny 2040’, a long-term integrated strategic project intended to regenerate and rejuvenate the urban core of Letterkenny.

The advancement of the URDF supported project is, in the first instance, a matter for Donegal County Council, and I understand that the Council has recently reported good progress.

Under Call 2 of the URDF, which was launched earlier this year, Donegal County Council submitted a proposal seeking further URDF support for Letterkenny.

This is one of seventy-six complex proposals received under Call 2, with every local authority submitting at least one proposal for URDF support, and each of which will require detailed assessment.

This assessment process is in train at present. Before the end of the year I intend to announce a new tranche of approved proposals, which will augment the existing pipeline of projects from Call 1 and contribute to the achievement of Programme for Government commitments and the objectives of the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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50. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeline for delivery of the funding for the North Quays from the urban regeneration and development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37828/20]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Under Call 1 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in 2018, Waterford City and County Council received an initial allocation of €6m for the North Quays project.

This URDF supported project consists of largely transport focused infrastructure works that will open up the City’s North Quays site for the development of commercial and residential land with direct sustainable access to the City Centre and intercity locations.

My Department has been working closely with Waterford City and County Council to assist in their development and advancement of this high cost and complex proposal. Through the URDF my Department has already recouped €5.7m in respect of costs incurred by Waterford City and County Council on the planning and development of this project.

On 10 November 2020, I announced the approval of €80.6m in URDF support for the project. This is part of a Government approved package of €110.6m in Exchequer support for the project, which also includes €30m committed by the National Transport Authority.

It should be noted that the advancement and completion of this project is, in the first instance, a matter for Waterford City and County Council, and that further URDF funding will recouped to the local authority as the project advances through the various stages of its development.

My Department will be writing formally to Waterford City and County Council shortly to confirm the arrangements and conditions attached to the recently announced URDF support.