Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2025
258. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the substantial investment projects planned for north Dublin to improve the range of services and amenities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35014/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.
To date, there have been three rounds ('calls') of funding provided under the URDF, with approximately €1.9 billion allocated so far. URDF supported projects are now active in every local authority area in the country.
While Calls 1 and 2 were for specific regeneration projects, the latest round of funding (Call 3) is to address long term vacancy and dereliction, while supporting the key objectives of Housing for All and Town Centre First.
The relevant sponsoring agency is responsible for the composition of any applications for funding and decides, in the first instance, on which suitable projects it wishes to have considered for URDF funding. In the case of the Investment to which you refer, the relevant sponsoring agencies in the North Dublin Region would be Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council.
Further details of the URDF Call 1 and Call 2 programme of projects for Dublin City Council’s North side projects are shown in Table A below.
Further details of the URDF Call 1 and Call 2 programme of projects for Fingal County Council’s projects are shown in Table B below.
Table A – Dublin City Council – URDF Calls 1 and 2 Approved Projects
|
URDF Call |
Proposal Title |
Description |
Current URDF Funding Allocation |
|
Call 1 |
Santry River Restoration Project |
Regeneration Project to include Scoping study and development of draft schematics of river restoration plan, setting up of Project Office and engagement with local stakeholders. |
€831,616 |
|
Call 1 |
Rutland Street NEIC |
The building will be redeveloped as a community facility and will contain a wide range of uses. The design will reduce energy use and the carbon footprint of the building and be accessible for all regardless of mobility from the street. The building will also be made safe and useable as a multi-tenant public facility. |
€22,373,364 |
|
Call 2 |
North Inner City Concept Area 1 |
The North Inner City project involves the regeneration and redevelopment of several areas of the north city that have suffered from dereliction and decline over a number of years. The main objective of this project is to achieve long term sustainable regeneration around the redevelopment of various areas. Comprises 11 Projects: - Parnell Sq. Cultural Quarter (Phase 1) - Markets & Public Realm Study & Works - Parnell Sq. Public Realm Works - 15/16 Henrietta Street - Na Píobairí Uilleann - Moore St. Public Realm Works - Fruit & Vegetable Market - Five Lamps Public Realm Works - Mountjoy Sq. Conservation Plan - 41 Parnell Sq. - Ryders Row - 14 – 17 Moore Street (this sub-project is sponsored by the National Monument Service in the D/HLGH). |
€132,657,853 |
Table B – Fingal County Council – URDF Calls 1 and 2 Approved Projects
|
URDF Call |
Proposal Title |
Description |
Current URDF Funding Allocation |
|
Call 1 |
Sustainable Swords |
“Sustainable Swords” is a place-making strategy to improve the resilience of the local economy and provide for an enhanced, accessible, inclusive, child friendly and healthy urban environment. |
€375,000 |
|
Call 1 |
Balbriggan |
Funding to support the planning and design of a suite of projects to make improvements in Balbriggan and its environs. |
€2,125,000 |
|
Call 2 |
Dunsink Feasibility Study |
Area Based Transport Assessment and Surface Water Management Assessment |
€41,250 |
|
Call 2 |
Balbriggan Rejuvenation |
The Balbriggan Rejuvenation Project will rejuvenate key existing buildings in the Town Centre and Environs and infrastructure including public areas and harbour/coastal works. Comprises 7 Projects: - Quay St and environs (including Harbour Rejuvenation) - 2-4 Dublin St. - No’s 6, 8, 8A, 10, 12 & 14 Bridge St. - Railway St & Station Plaza - Milpond Park (Green Corridor) - Boathouse & Bathhouse - Promenade & Coastal Improvements |
€26,001,027 |
Future Rounds of Funding
In line with the agreed Programme for Government, it is my intention to establish a new Towns and Cities Infrastructure Investment Fund to replace the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). With this new fund the aim is to continue and expand URDF-type investment in projects. This will allow for investment in infrastructure, the acquisition of land, assembly of sites and the de-risking of sites in existing towns and cities to maximise their potential growth.
The detailed arrangements for the implementation of these funding streams will be clarified further following completion of the National Development Plan Review, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, and which will enable the level of additional capital funding for infrastructure investment to be determined. It is planned that the Review will be completed in line with the summer 2025 timeline set out in the Programme for Government.
My Department will continue to work closely with Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in respect of project development under future rounds of funding.
