Revitalising the North-East – O’Brien announces €35.1 million for Regeneration Projects

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has announced €35.1 million in funding for three regeneration projects in the North-East region of Cavan, Louth and Monaghan. The projects are being funded under ‘Call 2’ of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). The URDF part-funds projects aimed at enhancing urban areas to make them more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest. The three local authorities, which will deliver these multi-annual projects, will receive this funding.

The projects for which URDF support have been approved are:

• Abbeylands Regeneration Project (Cavan County Council) – €14.49 million
• Nicholas Quarter and Backlands Regeneration (Dundalk) (Louth County Council) – €7.49 million
• Dublin Street Regeneration (Monaghan County Council) – €13.11 million

The department will now contact the local authorities on the next steps regarding funding. The projects announced today will augment the existing pipeline of 87 URDF-supported projects across the country for which just under €300 million has already been allocated. Details of the provisional funding allocations for URDF projects in other Project Ireland 2040 investment regions not already announced will be announced in the coming weeks.

All selected projects support the National Planning Framework’s ‘national strategic outcome’ of compact growth, a particular focus of the second call for URDF proposals. The URDF aims to facilitate a greater proportion of residential and commercial development, supported by infrastructure, services and amenities, within the existing built-up areas of larger urban settlements.

Announcing the provisional allocations this morning, Minister O’Brien said: “This funding will support projects in the North-East that will enhance quality of life for many people. The projects are all about making these areas more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest. These three projects focus on regenerating town centres, an important priority for this Government, through a mixture of works to create public spaces, centres for working and community, and works to connect areas in the towns. I believe this funding can be a catalyst for regeneration, development and growth. It will also provide much-needed economic stimulus and job creation in Cavan, Louth and Monaghan as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic.”

Minister O’Brien added: “Compact growth was the focus of this round of URDF funding. The projects the Government is funding are geared towards sustainable growth of our urban settlements, supported by jobs, houses, services and amenities, as envisaged by the National Planning Framework. As well as compact growth, the fund supports our other national planning aims. In that sense the URDF is a unique approach to Government funding. Whilst many funds are for specific projects, the URDF funds a diverse set of integrated projects with integrated aims. I look forward to working with Cavan, Louth and Monaghan County Councils to progress these important projects.

“I understand there will be some disappointment in terms of projects which were unsuccessful and my Department will engage with Local Authorities and provide feedback in respect of unsuccessful proposals.”

The projects were chosen after a rigorous assessment process, overseen by a project advisory board consisting of Government departments, State agencies and national and international experts in areas such as building, architecture and planning. In total, the department received 76 project proposals. Each local authority submitted at least one application. Today’s announcement honours the Programme for Government commitment to continue the URDF.