The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with (i) the Southern Regional Assembly, and (ii) the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, today (19^th January 2015) announced the proposed local authority capital projects around Ireland that have been approved for ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) grants for sustainable urban development under the Designated Urban Centres Grants Scheme 2014 – 2020. Funding under the Scheme will enable project investments in Irish urban centres of the order of €127 million over the period to 2020 of which €40 million will be funded from the ERDF with matching funding from the relevant local authorities.

This ERDF co-funded grants scheme seeks specifically to increase the number of integrated regeneration initiatives to improve the urban environment and revitalise Irish urban areas. It makes available a new round of capital grant assistance for approved projects in designated urban centres which fit with integrated strategies to tackle the social, economic, environmental, climate and demographic challenges affecting the areas concerned, thereby contributing to the improvement of the development potential of the concerned areas and enhancing their economic, social and environmental conditions.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly TD said

“There is a strong correlation between healthy and vibrant urban centres and the creation of an attractive environment and enterprise development within the wider region. Strong urban centres enable their regions to realise their potential in attractiveness for business investment, for Foreign Direct Investment for tourism and creating conducive and attractive locations for investment and for people to live and work in.”

Minister for Housing, Planning and Co-ordination of Construction 2020 Strategy Mr Paudie Coffey added “This investment in sustainable urban development recognises our cities and towns as the engines of the regional economy. This scheme will provide grant assistance to designated local authorities for urban capital projects. I am delighted that sustainable urban development is being prioritised for funding under the scheme announced today, and that the investment being leveraged by the approved projects has the support of €40 million ERDF grants.”

Minister Kelly was joined in the announcement by the –

• Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Pascal Donohoe TD
• Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD
• Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Housing, Planning and Coordination of the Construction 2020 Strategy, Paudie Coffey TD

Minister Heather Humphreys said:

“Projects funded by this scheme will enhance the architectural heritage of our cities and towns, encourage sustainable development and revitalise our urban historic areas. Most importantly, this scheme will also help to improve the quality of life of the communities that live, work and socialise in our urban centres.

“This scheme complements a number of initiatives being undertaken by my Department in conjunction with other government departments and agencies to promote the sustainable, heritage-led regeneration of our towns and cities. Ireland has a wealth of historic urban areas; this scheme will help to ensure that they thrive into the future by stimulating heritage-led regeneration while adding to the long-term sustainable development of towns and cities.”

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD stated“I’m particularly pleased to see the number of sustainable transport measures being funded under this call. We’ve seen a significant growth in the numbers cycling over the past few years due to the continued investment in cycling infrastructure by my Department, the National Transport Authority and local authorities. The measures announced today will see that growth continue. This also ties in with our recently launched National Physical Recreation Plan and shows this Government’s commitment to sustainable transport modes. I’m pleased to see that Limerick is continuing to seek to improve their sustainable transport provision under this scheme following on from the €9m granted to them under my Department’s Smarter Travel Area funding stream. The commitment to funding urban regeneration also ties in neatly with my responsibilities for tourism as these funds will make these towns and cities more attractive not only to live and work in but to visit.”

Local Authority Capital Projects eligible for grant assistance for Sustainable Urban Development under ERDF 2014-2020 (EMRA region):