Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1004.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress to date in advancing projects under the shared island initiative (details supplied). [32657/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government’s Shared Island Local Authority Development funding scheme, which is administered by my Department, supports a programme of feasibility assessments by local authorities, on potential cross-border projects across a range of sectors including biodiversity, sustainable tourism, circular economy, innovation, and cultural and creative industries. The scheme, which is funded through the Shared Island Fund, supports local authorities North and South in progressing feasibility and development work on new joint investment projects that can deliver on shared local and regional development goals.

In relation to the two projects referred to, a feasibility report has been submitted for the first project and it is due to be completed in 2024; the second project has been completed. My Department and the Shared Island Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach are engaging at present with each of the local authority partners on their feasibility reports, including the two projects referred to, to discuss how local authorities could take agreed projects forward to a further stage of development on a collaborative cross-border basis.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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1005.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the progress of the One Shannon Hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33052/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is currently providing part-funding to applicant-led projects, enabling more compact and sustainable development within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns.

To date, there have been three rounds of funding provided under the URDF with more than €1.9 billion allocated so far. While Call 1 and 2 was for specific proposals, the latest round of funding (Call 3) is supporting a programme of acquisitions in each local authority to address long term vacancy and dereliction. Under Call 1 and Call 2 there were 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 projects, approved for funding.

Under the URDF's two calls for proposals, €13,748,140 in support has been allocated to Clare County Council for their four successful applications. This includes an allocation of €361,789 in URDF support to advance with the preliminary concept design phase of the One Shannon Hub project as part of the Shannon Town Centre Masterplan proposal which received an overall allocation of €611,789.

In June 2024, my Department met with Clare County Council for an update on the One Shannon Hub project and were informed by the Council that this project is nearing the end of the preliminary design stage with an expected completion of the URDF supported works in Q3 2024.

It should be noted that while my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Clare County Council in respect of project funding, responsibility for the advancement of their URDF supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for Clare County Council. Accordingly, detailed queries regarding the projects should be directed to the Council.