Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

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For Oral Answer on : 26/01/2023
Question Number(s): 100 Question Reference(s): 2525/23
Department: Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage when the next call for applications under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund will be made given the need for public realm infrastructure improvements in east Cork as a result of rising population levels in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan (NDP), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) provides part-funding to applicant-led projects, enabling more compact and sustainable development 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.

To this end, the URDF has already allocated in excess of €1.6 billion under two separate calls for proposals since its inception in 2018. Providing assistance to 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 subprojects, URDF projects are now active in every local authority area in the country.

To date, approximately €16.5 million in URDF funding has been provisionally approved to support nine projects in Cork County, five of which contain subprojects relating to improved public realm. Delivery on projects already approved is a key priority going forward. My Department will continue to work closely with local authorities in respect of project development but it should be noted that responsibility for the advancement of projects is a matter for the sponsoring agency, in this instance Cork County Council.

In relation to a further call for applications, Minister O’Brien plans to announce details in the coming days of a third round of funding under the URDF.