Written answers
Thursday, 7 March 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Housing Schemes
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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266. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11460/24]
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if projects (details supplied) have moved beyond the detailed project briefs and procurement strategies stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11461/24]
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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268. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide a detailed timeline for the completion of projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11462/24]
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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269. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide more information on sub-projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11463/24]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 269, inclusive, together.
In 2021, following the second call for proposals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, I announced a provisional allocation of €11,027,500 in URDF support for Mayo County Council's two successful proposals – the Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative (€8,527,500) and for works to Castlebar Military Barracks (€2,500,000).
This followed Mayo County Council's successful application for €141,391 in URDF support towards technical assistance for the advancement of the Castlebar Military Barracks proposal under the URDF's first call for proposals in 2018.
The overall Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative is made up of 6 individual projects, the details of which are outlined in the following table.
| Project Title | Description of Works | Project Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Mall Innovation Hub (The Imperial Hotel/Daly's Hotel) | Repurpose the former Daly’s (Imperial) Hotel as an Innovation Hub. | Public Building(s) (Enterprise Hubs / Community Centres / Libraries etc.) |
| Public Realm Works | Public Realm Works in the Mall | Public Realm Works |
| Youth Resource Centre (The Old Post Office) | Repurpose the former Castlebar Post Office as a Community Youth Resource Centre | Public Building(s) (Enterprise Hubs / Community Centres / Libraries etc.) |
| Strategic Acquisition of properties | Purchase of 4 vacant properties at the corner of Rock Square. | Strategic Acquisition(s) |
| Master Plan for Ellison Street and Back Lands | Masterplan and strategic site assembly at key locations in Castlebar | Technical Assistance/Design Works |
| Ellison Street Infrastructure | New Links and Access routes with possible compulsory purchase | Public Realm Works |
Each of these projects have received Preliminary Business Case approval which represents Decision Gate 1 in the project life cycle of the Public Spending Code (recently replaced by the newly published Infrastructure Guidelines) and gives approval to Mayo County Council to proceed to the development of a Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy for those projects that contain capital works for submission to the department as part of the approval process for the next decision gate, Approval Gate 2 – Pre-Tender Approval.
In terms of the projects that do not involve capital works, Mayo County Council is approved to advance the procurement process for these projects, with a view to submitting a Final Business Case to the department for approval to proceed.
In addition to issuing Preliminary Business Case approval, my Department has also recently issued Approval Gate 2 (Pre-Tender Approval) for the repurposing of the former Castlebar Post Office as a Community Youth Resource Centre. This gives approval to Mayo County Council to proceed to tender with a view to developing a comprehensive Final Business Case for submission to the Department as part of the approval process for the next decision gate (Approval Gate 3 - Post Tender Approval).
Regarding the Castlebar Military Barracks, this proposal contains the following 2 individual projects:
| Project Title | Description of Works | Project Type |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed Design and Planning for the Barracks Site | Production of a Final Scheme Design, including Archaeological works, the Protection of Wildlife and Part 8 Planning for the detailed scheme. | Technical Assistance/Design Works |
| Essential Enabling works to existing buildings | Reverse emergent dereliction in the existing buildings and to integrate the site with the historic core reactivation initiative. | Public Realm Works |
Having received preliminary business case approval, Mayo County Council is now approved to advance the procurement of a design team to deliver a detailed design and secure planning consent for the Barracks site, the outcome of which should be submitted to the department as part of the project’s Final Business Case for approval. The Council is also approved to proceed with the development of a Pre-Tender submission for the Enabling Works project as part of the approval process for the next Approval Gate 2 (Pre-Tender Approval).
While my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Mayo 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, Mayo County Council. Any queries regarding the timeline of the projects should be directed to the Council.
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