Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
283. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the district heating exploration within the Maynooth Town Centre Renewal (URDF Call 2; €1.9 million), including the technical findings and decision gate progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72705/25]
View answer284. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the Harbourfield Park project within the Maynooth Town Centre Renewal (URDF Call 2; €1.9 million), including the dates for Part 8, tender and commencement on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72706/25]
View answer285. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has approved any cost re baselining for the Maynooth Town Centre Renewal to address inflationary impacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72707/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 283 to 285, inclusive, together.
In 2021, following the second call for proposals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), a provisional allocation of €1,908,750 in URDF support was announced for Kildare County Council's successful proposal – Maynooth Town Centre Renewal – Strengthening the Grid. Comprised of 5 individual projects, the proposal will support the preparation of a Masterplan and the preparation of Key Town Renewal projects. The current approved allocation for the overall proposal is €1,921,696.09.
In relation to the current status of the projects please see the following table:
|
Project Title |
Description of Works |
Project Type |
Status |
|
Maynooth Town Renewal Masterplan (TRMP) |
Preparation of a TRMP to increase town centre living |
Technical Assistance |
Approval Gate 3 - Final Business Case approved and work has commenced on the Masterplan. |
|
District Heating Exploration project in the historic grid town centre |
Funding towards Feasibility Study to determine potential for district heating scheme serving commercial and residential community |
Technical Assistance |
Approval Gate 3 – Final Business Case has been submitted. Queries have issued to the Council with a response awaited. |
|
Harbourfield Park |
Funding towards design and planning stages only. |
Technical Assistance |
Approval Gate 3 – Final Business Case submission currently under consideration and a response will issue to the Council in due course. |
|
Potential Pilot Project – participatory urban design |
Funding towards consultation with stakeholders and community during design process - may include development of online platform |
Technical Assistance |
Approval Gate 3 – Final Business Case submission awaited from the Council. |
|
Development of Key town renewal projects |
Funding towards the progressing key reactivation and urban renewal projects to be identified in the completed Maynooth Town Centre Renewal Plan, to ‘shovel ready’ stage. |
Technical Assistance |
Strategic Assessment Approved. Upon completion of the Maynooth TRMP, the Council will need to send in an Approval Gate 1 Preliminary Business Case submission on the priority projects identified through the Masterplan for further development. |
In relation to the overall costs of the proposal, any increases in costs on URDF projects, are dealt with as part of the Approval Gate submissions for individual projects. Responses will issue to the Council in due course where any additional URDF support has been sought.
It should be noted that while my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Kildare County Council in respect of their URDF Programme of works, responsibility for the advancement of their supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for Kildare County Council. Accordingly, queries regarding the technical details of projects should be directed to the Council.
