Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
163. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund will support towns in Kildare North that were previously outside the URDF thresholds, such as Kilcock, and those that have been approved for URDF previously such as Maynooth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37557/26]
View answerWith a focus on supporting policies such as ‘Town Centre First’ and City Task Forces, as well as integrated Urban Regeneration, the new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund will deliver transformative and impactful projects that will regenerate eligible areas.
While replacing the Urban Regeneration and Investment Fund (URDF), the new Fund will continue to build on its success to date, and will provide a greater focus on disadvantaged areas. As before, it will apply to the five cities and their metropolitan areas, to larger towns with a population of more than 10,000 people and to some smaller towns with fewer than 10,000 people where they generate 2,500 jobs.
Following a review of the latest Census 2022 data, I widened the scope of eligibility under the new Fund to include towns with a population of over 9,000. Kilcock does not meet the eligibility criteria for support on that basis.
However, Kildare does still have seven eligible areas:
Celbridge
Leixlip
Maynooth
Naas
Newbridge
Athy
Kildare Town
My Department will continue to work closely with local authorities in respect of applications submitted under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund. However, responsibility for the location and composition of applications for funding, and their advancement through the various stages of planning, development and completion remains, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant local authority (Kildare County Council in this case).
In that context, Kildare County Council has submitted six projects for consideration under Round 1 of funding applications for the new Fund. These applications include a project to redesign Harbour Field Park, Maynooth. It, along with all the others received, are currently being assessed against the criteria set out through the application process.
I hope to be in a position to announce the successful applications later this summer.
