Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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345. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide the schedule for the drawdown of Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) funding for both Tralee and Killarney, County Kerry; the specific elements of each application which will be prioritised for development using the allocated funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62878/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €3,719,011 has been allocated to Kerry County Council under Call 1 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in respect of the projects in Tralee and Killarney. In March this year I announced provisional funding support of €32,005,146 for Kerry County Council’s successful Call 2 projects – Destination Killarney (€16,068,429) and Positioning Tralee as a Regional Economic Driver & Destination Town (€15,936,717).

While my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Kerry County Council in respect of project funding, responsibility for the advancement of these URDF supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the Sponsoring Agency, Kerry County Council.

In this regard it should be noted that all URDF supported projects must be carefully developed and managed by the Sponsoring Agency in accordance with the normal conditions and arrangements that apply to public sector managed projects including, exercising appropriate cost control and delivering projects as approved, and in full compliance with the Public Spending Code.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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346. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the next round of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62880/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The URDF was launched in 2018 to support more compact and sustainable development. The Fund is providing part-funding for projects that will enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns, while also ensuring that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.

In keeping with the aims of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Project Ireland 2040, the URDF demonstrates a new and more tailored approach to the provision of Government support. Over its planned duration up to 2030, URDF support will be targeted in an integrated, dynamic and responsive way to support the regeneration and rejuvenation of our towns and cities.

Already, the URDF is providing assistance for major projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan.

Through the URDF, successful applicants are receiving targeted integrated support for innovative holistic solutions to the issues that have hindered the regeneration and rejuvenation of our large towns and cities.

To date there have been two Calls for proposals under the URDF with a total of almost €312m allocated to date in respect of the 87 projects approved under Call 1, while in March this year I announced URDF funding support of €1.3 billion in respect of a countrywide programme of 45 proposals approved under Call 2.

At this stage my Department's immediate focus is on ensuring early progress on these important projects and in this regard my Department is currently engaged in a series of meetings with local authorities to discuss the advancement of the current programme of 132 transformational regeneration and development projects.

Following completion of this process consideration will be given to the timing and focus of any next call for proposals under the URDF.