The arrangement pairs Killarney National Park in County Kerry and Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. 

DUBLIN – An agreement signed today in a virtual ceremony establishes Glacier National Park in Montana, USA, and Killarney National Park in County Kerry, Ireland, as “sister parks”. The arrangement furthers international cooperation between the two countries and facilitates collaboration related to the management these cherished, protected places.
Killarney National Park, managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Glacier National Park, managed by the U.S. National Park Service, have common issues including heavy visitation, controlling exotic and invasive species, outreach with local communities, ecological monitoring, and partnership agreements. The parks will share best practices through the exchange of technical and professional knowledge, data, technology, training, and possible site visits.

“I am delighted that my Department – through the National Parks and Wildlife Service – is entering into a Sister Parks arrangement with U.S. National Park Service by developing best practices and establishing closer links between Killarney National Park and Glacier National Park, Montana. In doing so we will enrich the experience and capacity of the personnel of both Parks through exchanges of staff and best practices,” said Ireland’s Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien.

“The collaborative nature of this partnership provides an excellent opportunity to exchange lessons learned related to recreation, preservation and resource management,” said Shawn Benge, Deputy Director of the National Park Service, exercising the authority of the Director. “We are excited about the possibilities to work together and learn from each other.”

“From today, both Killarney National Park and Glacier National Park will aim to capitalise on the significant networking knowledge and sharing opportunities this agreement supports. Given the natural and cultural resources protected and presented by both organisations, as well as our respective mandates, it is my hope that we use our arrangement as a joint and thus stronger voice to highlight the challenges not only in these two parks but across our nations,” said Ireland’s Minister of State for Heritage at the Department Malcolm Noonan.

“As the world’s first international peace park with Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, Glacier National Park has a proud history of working with partners beyond our borders to exchange best practices and to learn from one another,” said Jeff Mow, Glacier National Park Superintendent. “We look forward to adding to our history and collaborating with Killarney National Park.”

The agreement lasts for five years and may be extended or modified by the participants. The new sister park relationship joins more than three dozen that exist between U.S. national parks and national parks and protected areas in other countries.

Revitalising Cork – Taoiseach and O’Brien announce €405 million for Regeneration Projects in City and County 
-          €353 million to be invested in Cork Docklands Project
-          €47 million Grand Parade project includes new 7,700m² city library with aim of 1 million visits a year
-          Funding for Mallow Town Centre renewal
-          €1.3 billion total investment across Ireland through URDF ‘Call 2’ funding
 
An Taoiseach, Michéal Martin TD, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, have today announced €405 million in funding for four regeneration projects in Co. Cork.
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. Cork City Council and Cork County Council, which will deliver these multi-annual projects, will receive this funding.  
The projects which will be supported under the URDF are:

• Cork City Docklands (Cork City Council) – €353.40 million
• Grand Parade Quarter (Cork City Council) – €46.05 million
• Mallow Town Centre Regeneration (Cork County Council) – € 4.70 million
• Passage West - Ringaskiddy - Carrigaline Harbour Cluster (Cork County Council) – €817,500

 
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will now contact the local authorities on the next steps regarding funding. Today’s announcement concludes the total URDF ‘Call 2’ allocations with a total of €1.306 billion being allocated across the country.
 
Announcing the funding allocations for Co. Cork this morning, An Taoiseach Michéal Martin said: “This significant investment of over €400m we are announcing today is a game changer for Cork and positions the city for major growth over the next decades.
 
“It’s all about making Cork City and County even better places in which to work, live, visit and invest. The Cork City Docklands Project investment of €353m will transform the recreational, residential and commercial areas, and prime the docklands for significant follow up private sector development.
 
“It provides funding for the new Marina Park, it provides funding for cycleways, walkways and the Eastern Gateway Bridge, which will further improve connectivity.
 
“The investment will transform the Grand Parade with over €50m for a new public library, a new central plaza and boardwalk to facilitate cultural and recreational activities – making it one of the most attractive features in the centre of our city.
 
“It underpins the strategy of creating strong regional cities outside Dublin, with significant funding also for Mallow town centre regeneration, Passage West, Ringaskiddy and Carrigaline Harbour Cluster.”
 
Minister O’Brien added: “Urban renewal is at the heart of our funding announcement for Cork today. At their heart, these projects aim to enhance people’s quality of life and support sustainable development. I look forward to working with Cork City and Cork County Councils to progress these important projects.”
Commenting on the overall ‘Call 2’ URDF funding allocations for the nine investment regions made over the past two weeks, Minister O’Brien said. “Over the past fortnight we have announced a total of €1.3 billion in funding for a range of projects right across the country. Our focus in this round of URDF funding is compact growth. That means achieving residential and commercial growth in our larger urban settlements, supported by jobs, houses, services and amenities. I’ve been energised by the quality of projects we’re funding - funding that can be a catalyst for regeneration, development and growth. It will also provide much-needed economic stimulus and job creation across the country as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic,” he concluded.  
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.

ENDS
 
Note to editors
 
Cork City Council projects
 
Cork City Docklands - €353.40 million
This project will unlock Cork City Docklands potential to develop as a vibrant, top-class district that will attract investment in mixed-use development, leisure and cultural facilities. The development of Cork City Docklands is a key element of Cork City’s ambitious plans to achieve compact urban growth. The works to be supported include:

• Strategic Public Realm and Parks and Facilities – significant public realm works at Cork City Docklands. These will include development of Marina Park, provision of a public realm space at the Quays, and supporting site assembly to deliver green spaces for active and passive sports and recreation.

• Strategic Surface Water Drainage and Flood Protection – protection of the Docklands from flooding by investing in drainage and flood protection measures that respect the history and heritage of the area. The measures will primarily use nature-based solutions and existing infrastructure.

• Transportation and Access – enhanced mobility in the Docklands through investment in key significant strategic transport infrastructure, to optimise the capacity of road, walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure which includes both the Eastern Gateway Bridge and Kent Station Bridge/Link Road. This is with a view to achieving a very high proportion of sustainable transport modes for the docklands area.
• Associated feasibility studies, project development and project management supports to facilitate timely implementation.

 
Grand Parade Quarter - €46.05 million
This project will bring about the regeneration of the Grand Parade Quarter, an underutilised area of Cork City. This is the follow-on capital element to the design phase project supported by the URDF ‘Call 1’ funding. The development of the Grand Parade Quarter will be transformative and will combine with other complementary developments in the area to create a vibrant quarter where culture and learning acts as a catalyst for business and tourism. Works will include:
 

• City Library - The Grand Parade has traditionally been the home of Cork’s City Library. The existing library is dated and too small to achieve the potential for a library in a UNESCO Learning City. It is proposed to develop a 7,700 square metres library in a well-designed iconic building that embraces its riverside location. A target of 1 million visits per annum is set for the new library, which is achievable given the location, scale and range of activities proposed for the New City Library. It is also proposed to provide a 1,600 square metres Sanctuary Garden on the library’s rooftop. This will be accessible to all through library membership and will be a secure place for older people and people with disabilities to enjoy Cork’s urban biodiversity.

• Bishop Lucey Park – rejuvenate Bishop Lucey Park as an important amenity in Cork City. This will create a place of recreation, both active and passive, with something to offer all ages within the community. It will show a clear understanding of the park's urban context as a soft green space within the city.
• Public Realm – the public realm will include a public plaza, boardwalk and accessible infrastructure that will enhance experience of the overall Grand Parade area as well as its connectivity and permeability. It will provide:
  • a new public space facing the sun on the north bank, to the south branch of the River Lee
  • a hard surface civic space for people on the river as a counterpoint to Bishop Lucey Park
  • open green space to the north of the site
  • a new civic space in the city to experience literature, arts and culture
  • enable enjoyment of views of key signature buildings of Cork City, including St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral and Elizabeth Fort while providing access and interconnectivity to both Grand Parade and the Cork Events centre. 

 
URDF funding for Cork City Council to date:
The €399.45 million in approved funding is in addition to €3.42 million in approved URDF funding for four ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Beamish and Crawford / Grand Parade Quarter’; ‘Cork City Docklands’; and ‘Kent Station Yard (Site enabling)’ and ‘Tivoli Docks’.
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €402.88 million 
 
Cork County Council projects
Mallow Town Centre Regeneration - €4.70 million
This project’s overarching aim is stimulating town centre renewal and creating a more liveable and attractive town centre.
 
This project supports the delivery of key, strategic town centre transformative projects targeted in Mallow town, along with two pilot schemes. The two pilot schemes involve building re-use interventions in order to assess if such interventions can stimulate private sector interest and/or activity, to address some of the key challenges facing town centres. Works to be supported include:
 
·         Mallow Castle Visitor Destination Development – appointment of a design team to progress the design and business case for the development of a visitor destination development at Mallow Castle.
·         Mallow Main Street Public Realm – design team to develop an overall public realm plan for Davis Street and key laneways in Mallow town. This will animate and create an attractive, vibrant and welcoming sense of place in Mallow Town Centre. It will improve linkages between key services and amenities. The public realm plan will have a specific focus on developing Mallow’s overall “place-making” identity through the development of key anchor, heritage-led visual interpretative elements.
·         Pilot retail/commercial incubator scheme – to incentivise the establishment of new independent retailers and/or offices in Mallow town centre.
·         Pilot vacant property/brownfield redevelopment scheme – to support the financial viability and regeneration of town centre vacant property/brownfield sites for energy efficient or zero-carbon social infrastructure developments.
 
Passage West - Ringaskiddy - Carrigaline Harbour Cluster - €817,500
This project covers project planning and design and the initial site assembly to facilitate the future delivery of a suite of co-ordinated and linked transformative projects. Those projects will be targeted at the towns of Carrigaline and Passage West, which, together with Ringaskiddy, form a key spatial cluster adjoining Cork Harbour. Works include:

• Carrigaline - strategic site assembly to enable urban renewal that will complement and leverage significant regeneration gains arising from the re-routing of traffic from the town's Main Street; detailed design plan for public realm works
• Passage West – feasibility study and design for the extension of the existing cycle-way to Passage West through the Town. This extension is in order to deliver a critical part of the proposed Metropolitan Cycle Network linking the Passage West ­ Ringaskiddy - Carrigaline Cluster to Metropolitan Cork. These works will also involve detailed design to unlock significant urban regeneration opportunities at the under-utilised waterfront lands adjoining the existing cycleway.

 
URDF funding for Cork County Council to date:
The €5.52 million in approved funding is in addition to €10.94 million in approved URDF funding for seven ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Carrigaline Western Relief Road’; ‘Midleton Main Street Public Realm Improvements’; and ‘Midleton Permeability Package of Proposals’; ‘Cobh UEA - Public Realm - Diaspora Centre’; ‘Carrigaline Public Realm’; ‘Carrigtwohill’ and ‘Mallow Town Regeneration’
Total URDF funding approved to date: €16.46 million 
 
Analysis of Cork needs
Cork already performs well as a major urban centre in Ireland. The city has positioned itself as an emerging medium-sized European centre of growth and innovation. Building on this potential is critical to further enhancing Ireland’s metropolitan profile. One of the greatest challenges in achieving significant growth that will move the Cork metropolitan region to the next level is addressing the long-term decline of the City’s urban population. There is positive evidence of this trend changing in the 2016 Census but it will continue to be important to attract additional people and jobs to existing, established parts of the City.
It is also necessary to grow and diversify Cork’s towns. A key part of addressing this is an enhanced urban environment. This includes better housing choice and quality, new employment locations, improved public spaces, enhanced public transport as well as safe and pleasant options for walking and cycling.
 
Urban Regeneration and Development Fund
·         The URDF is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027. It has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027. Its aim is to support more compact and sustainable development in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban areas. Funding is aimed at projects that support the NDP objectives and the NPF’s ten ‘national strategic outcomes’, which include compact growth; enhanced regional accessibility; and sustainable mobility. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for administering the URDF.   
The four chosen projects are consistent with the Southern Regional Assembly’s Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and the Cork Area Strategic Plan.
·         Through the URDF, successful applicants receive targeted, integrated funding for innovative solutions to issues that have hindered urban regeneration and rejuvenation. The fund part-funds projects that will deliver a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development within the existing built-up footprints of cities and large towns.
·         The URDF’s significant capital investment acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration, development and growth. The IDA has already acknowledged the URDF’s important role in creating a sense of place, something considered essential for increasing Ireland’s attractiveness to foreign investment and strengthening opportunities for indigenous enterprise.
·         URDF ‘Call 1’ funding: The URDF is already providing assistance for major regeneration projects in Ireland’s larger urban areas. Under ‘Call 1’ of the URDF, 87 projects are being funded. Details were announced in November 2018. These projects are spread across the regions and span a number of the NPF’s objectives. The total provisional allocations to date in respect of these 87 projects is just under €300m.
·         URDF ‘Call 2’ funding: a second call for funding proposals was announced in January 2020. It focused on (1) integrated urban developments (2) strategic development areas combining a number of elements and (3) schemes that support wider climate action objectives and quality of life factors within cities and towns. Projects aim to deliver compact growth whilst ensuring more of our urban areas become attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work, visit and invest. Minister O’Brien has announced a total of €1.3 billion funding across the nine Project Ireland investment regions under ‘Call 2’.
·         More information on the URDF is available at: www.gov.ie/urdf 

 

•        €73.4 million to develop world-class waterfront along the Shannon
•        Nenagh’s Sustainable Energy Centre of Excellence expected to create more than 350 jobs
•        Pedestrian-focused public realm works for Ennis

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, today announced €130 million in funding for four regeneration projects in the Mid-West investment region of Clare, Limerick and Tipperary. 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:

•          Ennis Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration (Clare County Council) – €4.04 million
•          Worldclass Waterfront (Limerick City and County Council) – €73.4 million
•          Living Limerick City Centre Initiative (Limerick City and County Council) – €42.61 million
•          A Pathway to a Low-Carbon Society: A Centre for Excellence for Sustainable Energy for transformational urban regeneration of Nenagh Town Centre (Tipperary County Council) – €9.52 million

The Department will now contact the local authorities on the next steps regarding funding. 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 funding allocations this morning, Minister O’Brien said: “This funding will support projects in the Mid-West that will enhance the quality of life for many people. The projects are all about making these areas even more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest.
“The projects I have announced funding for today have a broad mix of objectives that support the Government's national planning aims. The project in Ennis will help create a more attractive pedestrian environment, thereby helping improving quality of life for those who live, work and visit the town.”
“Both Limerick projects are extremely exciting and will result in new opportunities such as a digital innovation cluster and a world-class waterfront along the Shannon. The Living Georgian City Programme will focus on creating new economic opportunities from derelict buildings in a city that has seen high levels of buildings vacancy over the years.”
“Everyone's future is low-carbon and the funding I am announcing for a centre of excellence for sustainable energy in Nenagh will marry the twin aims of sustainability and economic opportunity. The new centre of excellence will help the national transition to a low-carbon future, one of the Government’s national planning aims. It also has the potential to create hundreds of jobs, providing economic stimulus to Nenagh.” 
“Overall, 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 the Mid-West as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic.” 
“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 - in that sense the URDF is a unique approach to Government funding. Whilst many Government-funded programmes are for specific types of projects, the URDF funds a diverse set of integrated projects with integrated aims. I look forward to working with Clare, Limerick City and County, and Tipperary County Councils to progress these important projects.
The Minister concluded: “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.
ENDS
 
Note to editors
 
Clare County Council project
Ennis Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration - €4.04 million
The project forms the next phase of works that will contribute to achieving an overall vision of a high quality, pedestrian-focussed public realm in the medieval core of Ennis Town centre. This project continues the regeneration work of Parnell Street and the extensive network of Lanes and Bow-ways in the town, works supported under the URDF ‘Call 1’-supported ‘Parnell Street and the Lanes and Bow-ways’ project.
Works in this phase include:

•          O’Connell Square, High Street and Bank Place – civic space and public realm enhancements. These will include traffic calming, resurfacing and upgraded street furniture and planting.
•          Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square – traffic calming measures, street trees, public artwork, and distinctive street furniture and lighting and canopy structure as a central feature.
•          O’Connell Street – connectivity to the new civic areas at O’Connell Square and Barrack Street, street furniture, lighting and trees.

These works will result in a safer and more attractive pedestrian environment. They will also result in spaces that can have a civic function. They will help revitalise the town centre as a destination, improving its vitality and enabling Ennis to capitalise on its existing assets.
URDF funding for Clare County Council to date:
 
The €4.04 million in approved funding is in addition to €4.10 million in approved URDF funding for three ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘The Venue Shannon (Strategic Masterplan)’; ‘Parnell Street and the Lanes and Bow-ways’; and ‘Barrack Square and Old Barrack Street and O’Connell Square and High Street’.
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €8.14 million 
 
 
Limerick City and County Council project
Worldclass Waterfront - €73.4 million
This is a follow-on capital element to feasibility and design works supported under the URDF’s ‘Call 1’ to develop a world class waterfront along the River Shannon close to the city centre.
 
This project includes:

•          Cleeves Riverside Quarter – this will deliver high quality, mixed-use development involving the adaptive re-use of historic buildings for cultural/educational use, and public spaces on a key derelict site in close proximity to the city centre. The development will focus on compact city growth.
•          Pedestrian Bridges and Waterfront Infrastructural Works – public realm works, proposed pedestrian bridges and re-alignment of a public road at Arthur’s Quay and Honan’s Quay. This will facilitate a comprehensive re-development at Arthur’s Quay retail area.

Living Limerick City Centre Initiative - €42.61 million
This project is about making positive, innovative and transformational change to revitalise the centre of Limerick City and supporting the objective of compact growth in a holistic and strategic manner. It is an integrated programme of urban development that will be underpinned by a programme of innovative collaboration.
The city centre is a key piece of architectural and cultural heritage. It is the driver of economic growth for the region. Over recent times it has suffered from high levels of vacancy, under-use and under-investment. Its revitalisation is identified as a transformational project in the Limerick 2030 Plan 2014.
The works to be supported include:

• Living Georgian City Programme – renew vacant and underutilised stock by embedding emerging residential, economic and employment opportunities in derelict buildings. This builds on works, including a feasibility study, supported under the URDF’s ‘Call 1’.
• Digital Innovation Cluster Programme – This component will build on the work supported under the URDF ‘Call 1’, to develop an innovation campus within the city centre to attract cutting-edge companies, start-ups, ‘Accelerators’ and other related entities. This will create a dense cluster of innovators and entrepreneurs that will support job creation across the region.
•          Citizen Collaboration Programme – This will involve the development of a citizen observatory to support an active programme of citizen-led and developed solutions to liveability issues in the city centre. The programme will also transform the public realm of the city through a targeted programme of renewal. Renewal will increase footfall and support the development of the emerging economic, employment and residential models.

URDF funding for Limerick City and County Council to date:
 
The €116.01 million in approved funding is in addition to €9.68 million in approved URDF funding for seven ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘O'Connell Street’; ‘Digital Collaboration and Virtual Reality Centre’; ‘Worldclass Waterfront’; ‘Social and Economic Model’; ‘Living Georgian City Programme’; ‘Opera Project (Site enabling)’; ‘Digital District (Inner City Digital Hub)’.
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €125.70 million 
 
Tipperary County Council project
A Pathway to a Low-Carbon Society: A Centre for Excellence for Sustainable Energy for transformational urban regeneration of Nenagh Town Centre –
€9.52 million
This project has been developed as a direct, collaborative and innovative response to deliver on the objectives of Project Ireland 2040 and the Government’s Climate Action Plan. It is a transformative public-private urban regeneration project that builds on the established economic cluster of sustainable energy agencies, businesses and professionals in Nenagh, Tipperary and the region. The project also seeks to put in place public infrastructure, civic spaces and public realm enhancement to consolidate the linkages to the town centre.
The works to be supported under this Call 2 project include:

•          The development of a Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Energy – to be the anchor and catalyst for the redevelopment of the Martyr’s Road Regeneration Quarter. The Centre will host a range of public agencies working collaboratively to deliver innovative solutions, from training and development to new cutting edge research on technologies, to incubating low-carbon social enterprises. The centre has been designed to be one of Ireland’s first carbon neutral and energy positive buildings. It is expected to generate more than 350 jobs and directly contribute more than €17 million to the town’s economy over the 10 year period.
•          Public Realm and Amenity Enhancement – works and enhancements to Friar Street Civic Plaza, Martyr’s Road Town Park, Martyr’s Road streetscape improvements, including cycleways.

 
URDF funding for Tipperary County Council to date:
The €9.52 million in approved funding is in addition to €15.98 million in approved URDF funding for two ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Liberty Square Thurles’ and ‘Clonmel’.
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €25.51 million 
Analysis of the Mid-West region’s needs
Counties Clare, Limerick and much of County Tipperary comprise the Mid-West regional area, focused on Limerick City and the River Shannon estuary.  The region also extends into the northern part of County Kerry. Although focused on Limerick City and key employment and infrastructure assets at Shannon and Foynes, this regional area is supported by a strong rural economy and a varied network of towns and villages. Future growth will be based on leveraging national and international connectivity, higher education capacity and quality of life to secure strategic investment. This must be underpinned by strengthening Limerick and the urban cores of the county towns.
 
Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

•          The URDF is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027. It has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027. Its aim is to support more compact and sustainable development in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban areas. Funding is aimed at projects that support the NDP objectives and the NPF’s ten ‘national strategic outcomes’, which include compact growth; enhanced regional accessibility; and sustainable mobility. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for administering the URDF.   

The four chosen projects are consistent with the Southern Regional Assembly’s Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and the Mid-West Area Strategic Plan.

•          Through the URDF, successful applicants receive targeted, integrated funding for innovative solutions to issues that have hindered urban regeneration and rejuvenation. The fund part-funds projects that will deliver a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development within the existing built-up footprints of cities and large towns.
•          The URDF’s significant capital investment acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration, development and growth. The IDA has already acknowledged the URDF’s important role in creating a sense of place, something considered essential for increasing Ireland’s attractiveness to foreign investment and strengthening opportunities for indigenous enterprise.
•          URDF ‘Call 1’ funding: The URDF is already providing assistance for major regeneration projects in Ireland’s larger urban areas. Under ‘Call 1’ of the URDF, 87 projects are being funded. Details were announced in November 2018. These projects are spread across the regions and span a number of the NPF’s objectives. The total provisional allocations to date in respect of these 87 projects is just under €300m.
•          URDF ‘Call 2’ funding: a second call for funding proposals was announced in January 2020. It focused on (1) integrated urban developments (2) strategic development areas combining a number of elements and (3) schemes that support wider climate action objectives and quality of life factors within cities and towns. Projects aim to deliver compact growth whilst ensuring more of our urban areas become attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work, visit and invest.
  

€28 funding for Waterford to help revitalise Cultural Quarter and Viking Triangle
Abbey Quarter Project’s second phase funded
Carlow Town project to focus on improved mobility; Trinity Wharf, Wexford to be redeveloped
 
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, today announced €74 million in funding for five regeneration projects in the South-East investment region of Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. 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 four local authorities, which will deliver these multi-annual projects, will receive this funding.  
The projects for which URDF support have been approved are:
Public Realm and Pedestrian Linkage Project Carlow Town (Carlow County Council) – €9.79 million
Abbey Quarter Phase 2 (Advancement Project) (Kilkenny County Council) – €11.46 million
Kilkenny City Centre Enhanced Liveability Project – €6.64 million
Waterford City Centre Regeneration (Waterford City and County Council) – €27.66 million
Trinity Wharf (Wexford County Council) – €18.49 million
The Department will now contact the local authorities on the next steps regarding funding. Today’s announcement brings the total approved URDF funding for this investment region to date to €165.59 million. Details of the remaining provisional funding allocations for ‘Call 2’ URDF projects in other Project Ireland 2040 investment regions, not already announced, will be announced later this week.
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 Minister O’Brien said: “This funding will support projects in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford 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. The URDF funding we are announcing for Waterford today will help regenerate two areas in the city, demonstrating the Government’s ambition for Waterford to be a ‘Regional City of Scale’, as stated in the National Planning Framework. This ambition is already evidenced by the €80.6 million in funding for the North Quays project, which we announced last year.
“Wexford will also see redevelopment of an area with significant potential. The Trinity Wharf project, with its plans for retail, cultural, hotel and commercial development, can enhance Wexford as a location in which to live, work and visit. Improved quality of life and attractiveness as a place to work will help prevent future growth involving people commuting from Wexford to Dublin for work.”
Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, added: “The URDF funding for projects in Carlow and Kilkenny that we are announcing today is evidence of this Government’s commitment to improving quality of life in urban centres, making them more accessible, inclusive and liveable. Funding for the ‘Enhanced Liveability’ and Abbey Quarter public realm projects demonstrates our support for Kilkenny’s ambition to become a ’10 minute’ city and where ‘placemaking’ is creating a new vibrancy within the historic centre. Carlow town’s project is a good example of how the URDF can support the implementation of a vision as set out in ‘Project Carlow 2040’, where good urban planning can progress heritage-led regeneration, better liveability and enhance urban biodiversity. We see the URDF as a key catalyst in our ‘Town Centres First’ policy approach, to realise a vibrant and durable future for our unique Irish towns.”
Minister O’Brien added: “Overall, 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 Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic.” 
“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 Government-funded programmes are for specific types of projects, the URDF funds a diverse set of integrated projects with integrated aims. I look forward to working with the local authorities in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford to progress these important projects.”
“I understand there will be some disappointment in terms of projects which were unsuccessful. My Department will engage with and work with local in respect of unsuccessful proposals,” he concluded.
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.
ENDS
 
Note to editors
Carlow County Council project
Public Realm and Pedestrian Linkage Project Carlow Town – €9.79 million
This project will provide Carlow Town with plentiful, accessible and exciting public spaces that people can use all year round. It will also improve town centre linkages and increase pedestrian mobility from the town centre to Carlow College and the railway station.
 
The goal is to help more people spend more time outdoors together in an attractive urban setting. By improving the setting’s quality and enhancing accessibility to public open spaces, the project seeks to produce multi-functional benefits including health and wellbeing, sustainable transport, greater biodiversity and opportunities for recreation.
 
This project is the follow-on capital works to the related Master Plan from the successful URDF ‘Call 1’-funded ‘Funding for Master plan for Carlow Town Centre’ project. The project includes the following elements:
 

• Railway Link through Carlow College – works include the creation of a pedestrian friendly space, through landscaping, street furniture and improvements to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure
• Tullow Street - works to include provision of seating, trees and planting beds along Tullow Street
• Barrack Street Pedestrian Link - creating a new pedestrian link to improve the pedestrian connections in the town centre
• Barrack Street including Shamrock Square – this includes the creation of a pedestrian and cycle friendly space; landscaping to reduce the visual dominance of vehicular traffic; planting and seating to improve the public realm
• Kennedy Avenue - works will include the removal of Kennedy Avenue roundabout; planting of trees along Kennedy Avenue; and a new traffic solution including a cycle lane.

 
URDF funding for Carlow:
The €9.79 million in approved funding is in addition to €580,000 in approved funding for the ‘Call 1’ project, ‘Funding for Master plan for Carlow Town Centre’.
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €10.37 million 
 
Kilkenny County Council projects
Abbey Quarter Phase 2 (Advancement Project) – €11.46 million
This project entails the second phase of the Abbey Quarter project and builds on the first phase works initiated under the successful URDF ‘Call 1’-funded project. The second phase involves five complementary sub-projects covering public realm improvements, accessibility and regeneration of the Abbey Quarter:

• development of a new urban street with priority for pedestrians and cyclists, and an urban park and plaza
• construction of a boardwalk at Greensbridge, linking the River Nore riverside walk with the new Riverside Linear Park at the Abbey Quarter and onwards to the Canal Walk. It will facilitate and encourage cycling and walking to work from the adjacent residential areas
• repurposing of two retained maturation vats (following a design competition)
• Tea House - restoration and repurposing of the second smaller tea house as a public amenity
• Further refurbishment of the squash courts to serve as a cultural hub

 
Kilkenny City Centre Enhanced Liveability Project –€6.64 million
This project will increase the attractiveness, liveability and connectivity of Kilkenny City Centre for locals and visitors alike. It will transform the place by radically improving the streetscape and accessibility of the city centre, helping to knit together its constituent spaces and deliver the council’s objective of a compact ‘10-minute City’ and the most liveable urban centre in Ireland. The URDF will part-fund:
High Street and Rose Inn Street - improve the public realm and introduce mobility/smarter travel options and shared spaces
Ormonde Street - upgrade the streetscape and public realm to include provision of a new one-way system
St Kieran’s Street - upgrade the streetscape along the laneways and slips that connect it with High Street
St Mary’s Precinct - upgrade the streetscape and laneways
Carnegie Plaza - upgrade the public realm and the streetscape along Barrack Lane linking to John Street
 
URDF funding for Kilkenny:
The €18.10 million in approved funding is in addition to €6.15 million in approved URDF funding for the ‘Call 1’ ‘Abbey Quarter’ project. 
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €24.26 million 
 
Waterford City and County Council projects
Waterford City Centre Regeneration – 27.66 million
The National Planning Framework contains an objective of Waterford becoming a ‘Regional City of Scale’, driving regional growth. This project consists of the important regeneration of the Historic Core and implementation of the ‘Strategic Public Realm Plan’.
 
The project is based on a series of planned city centre brownfield site proposals and includes works to create a cultural hub, a business hub and the re-use of key sites. It involves a wide range of interventions that will provide an attractive ‘live, work and play environment’ to draw people back into Waterford City centre in order to bring social, economic and cultural vibrancy. The concept is to cross a ‘tipping point’ whereby the city centre will provide jobs and sustain itself into the future.
 
The project focuses on two of Waterford City’s quarters - the Cultural Quarter and the Viking Triangle. The works are:
 
Cultural Quarter: Strategic site assembly in key locations. This will enable various developments, including gallery and artists’ space; community venue and education centre; a creative industries incubation hub; public realm works; pocket parks and development of outdoor performance space.
Viking Triangle: strategic site assembly in key locations to enable various developments, including public realm works, a public park and mixed-use developments.
 
URDF funding for Waterford:
The €27.66 million in approved funding is in addition to €82.79 million in approved URDF funding for two ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Waterford City & Environ – North Quays’ and ‘Tramore Town Centre’.  
Total URDF funding approved to date: €110.45 million 
 
 
Wexford County Council projects
Trinity Wharf – €18.49 million
Trinity Wharf is a brownfield site, centrally located in Wexford Town with a high amenity waterfront vista. The site is identified as a ‘Key Opportunity’ site in the ‘Wexford Town & Environs Development Plan 2009 – 2015’. Through this project, the council plans to develop Trinity Wharf as a new mixed-use urban quarter to include retail, cultural, hotel and commercial office development.
The development has the potential to bring significant economic and social benefits. It could position Wexford as a superior location to work, live and visit. This project will build on the support approved under the URDF ‘Call 1’ project for first phase development of an access road and initial enabling works. Under ‘Call 2’ the URDF will support enabling/development works including:

• Access Road and Junction Works - new access road, automated railway level crossing and Trinity Street junction works
• Site Development Works - sea wall, site development works, public realm works to prepare an initial three sites for private sector development
• Marina and boardwalk - A pedestrian boardwalk will integrate Trinity Wharf with the town’s existing quay front promenade, including the newly improved Crescent Quay urban realm. It will link the site to Wexford’s town centre. The Trinity Wharf marina will provide the facilities for leisure craft activities and marine tourism.
• Site surfacing, hard and soft landscaping - site services, surfacing, hard and soft landscaping to prepare remaining sites for private sector development.

 
URDF funding for Wexford:
The €18.48 million in approved funding is in addition to €2.03 million in approved URDF funding for the ‘Call 1’ ‘Abbey Quarter’ project. 
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €20.51 million 
 
 
Analysis of the South-East region’s needs
Although it has a strong urban structure, much of this region is rural in character and includes some of Ireland’s most productive agricultural land. Strategically located between Cork and Dublin, with a network of large towns, the south-east has capacity for improved urban growth. Regional opportunities to leverage growth include:

• national and international connectivity, especially through ports proximate to continental Europe, such as Belview and Rosslare-Europort
• further balanced employment, and
• housing development in key settlements and county towns.

This growth, however, must be based on infrastructure and quality of life, rather than long distance commuting to Dublin. This is apparent in parts of counties Carlow and Wexford, in particular.
Urban Regeneration and Development Fund
The URDF is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027. It has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027. Its aim is to support more compact and sustainable development in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban areas. Funding is aimed at projects that support the NDP objectives and the NPF’s ten ‘national strategic outcomes’, which include compact growth; enhanced regional accessibility; and sustainable mobility. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for administering the URDF.   
The seven chosen projects are consistent with the Southern Assembly’s Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.
Through the URDF, successful applicants receive targeted, integrated funding for innovative solutions to issues that have hindered urban regeneration and rejuvenation. The fund part-funds projects that will deliver a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development within the existing built-up footprints of cities and large towns.
The URDF’s significant capital investment acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration, development and growth. The IDA has already acknowledged the URDF’s important role in creating a sense of place, something considered essential for increasing Ireland’s attractiveness to foreign investment and strengthening opportunities for indigenous enterprise.
URDF ‘Call 1’ funding: The URDF is already providing assistance for major regeneration projects in Ireland’s larger urban areas. Under ‘Call 1’ of the URDF, 87 projects are being funded. Details were announced in November 2018. These projects are spread across the regions and span a number of the NPF’s objectives. The total provisional allocations to date in respect of these 87 projects is just under €300m.
URDF ‘Call 2’ funding: a second call for funding proposals was announced in January 2020. It focused on (1) integrated urban developments (2) strategic development areas combining a number of elements and (3) schemes that support wider climate action objectives and quality of life factors within cities and towns. Projects aim to deliver compact growth whilst ensuring more of our urban areas become attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work, visit and invest.
More information on the URDF is available at: www.gov.ie/urdf 

Town centre renewal the focus of Naas and Maynooth projects
URDF to fund regeneration projects in Flowerhill and Abbeylands (Meath) and Bray Harbour Area
Investment will provide much needed stimulus during economic recovery
 
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, today announced €30.4 million in funding for five regeneration projects in the Mid-East investment region of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. 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:

• Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road (Kildare County Council) – €10.23 million
• Naas Town Renewal Masterplan (Kildare County Council) – €3.49 million
• Maynooth Town Centre Renewal – Strengthening the Grid (Kildare County Council) – €1.90 million
• Flowerhill and Abbeylands Regeneration (Meath County Council) – €7.66 million
• Bray Harbour Area Integrated Regeneration (Wicklow County Council) – €7.14 million

The Department will now contact the local authorities on the next steps regarding funding. Today’s announcement brings the total approved URDF funding for this investment region to date to €59.72 million. Details of the remaining provisional funding allocations for ‘Call 2’ URDF projects in other Project Ireland 2040 investment regions, not already announced, will be announced later this week.
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 Kildare, Meath and Wicklow that will enhance quality of life for many people. The projects are all about making these areas even more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest.
“Kildare will see significant funding through this announcement, with €10 million investment for the Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road. This will help Celbridge to develop in a way that utilises public transport infrastructure, including through increased connectivity between Celbridge Town and Hazelhatch train stations. Today's URDF funding will also spur on town centre renewals in Maynooth and Naas.
“The Flowerhill and Abbeylands Regeneration project in Navan is an exciting project. The project’s mix of improvement works and the proposed park and community facility can be a catalyst for much-needed development.
“The Bray Harbour project exemplifies the role the URDF plays in funding works that can release sites for future development, all with the aim of regenerating an area with so much potential. Overall, 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 Kildare, Meath and Wicklow as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic.
“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 Government-funded programmes are for specific types of projects, the URDF funds a diverse set of integrated projects with integrated aims. I look forward to working with Kildare, Meath and Wicklow County Councils to progress these important projects.”
He concluded: “I understand there will be some disappointment in terms of projects which were unsuccessful. My Department will engage with and work 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.
ENDS
 
Note to editors
Kildare County Council project
Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road – €10.24 million
 
This project provides essential infrastructure to support compact consolidated development in Celbridge by realising the full potential of zoned lands south and east of the River Liffey. It will facilitate the delivery of social infrastructure in close proximity to the town centre, public transport services, schools, community facilities and employment hubs. It will also support wider strategic impacts on the public realm and the expansion and development potential of the town centre.
This project is the follow-on capital element to the successful URDF ‘Call 1’-funded project, which provided technical support for the comprehensive and integrated advancement of the Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road, a project identified for its positive wider impacts to its adjoining settlement surrounds.
The project switches the focus of social infrastructure development from the north to the south side of Celbridge to capitalise on the extent of public transport infrastructure there, with a particular focus on social infrastructure in the vicinity of Hazelhatch train station, while promoting the concepts of liveable compactness.
The project will also support national sustainable mobility principles by enhancing connectivity between Celbridge Town and Hazelhatch train station. It will provide high-quality walking and cycling linkages from residential areas to employment areas and public transport services, thereby increasing permeability and sustainable mobility within the area more generally.
Works to this project will include:

• Phases 3-7 of the Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road Scheme.
• Delivery of a second bridge over the River Liffey to access ‘Key Development Areas’.

 
Naas Town Renewal Masterplan – €3.5 million
The project will support the preparation of a Naas Town Renewal Masterplan for the historic core of Naas. The aim is to initiate the transformative regeneration of the town centre through a plan-led, evidence-based, urban design and economic focused approach.
The works to be supported include:

• Naas Town Renewal – preparation of a master plan
• Background Assessments - Feasibility Study for The Castle Quarter, and a conservation management plan and archaeological survey for St. David’s Castle and grounds
• Site assembly of key sites within the town centre
• Transportation Interventions – progression of these works to planning and detailed design stage

 
Maynooth Town Centre Renewal – Strengthening the Grid – €1.91 million
This project will support the preparation of a Master Plan. The plan will be informed by an urban design analysis and extensive stakeholder and public consultation. It will aim to maximise the development potential for the urban block structure and prepare key town renewal projects so as to increase town centre living.
Works under this ‘Call 2’ project include:
‘Maynooth Town Centre Renewal – Strengthening the Grid’ – Preparation of Masterplan
District Heating Exploration Project – to determine the potential for a district heating scheme serving the commercial and residential community
Development of key town renewal projects – these will be identified in the Master Plan
Harbourfield Park - the development to detail design and tender stage
 
URDF funding for Kildare:
 
The €15.64 million in approved funding is in addition to €5.53 million in approved funding for the ‘Call 1’ project, ‘Letterkenny 2040’.
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €21.17 million 
 
Meath County Council projects
 
Flowerhill and Abbeylands Regeneration – €7.66 million
This is a public realm, amenity enhancements project with one historic refurbishment. It will be the catalyst for development within an area of decline and dereliction that was a hive of activity in the past. The aim is to address the impediments to redevelopment and regeneration by implementing the actions contained in the development framework produced through the successful URDF-funded ‘Call 1’ project. The works include: 

• Streetscape Enhancement - strategic public amenity enhancement will include upgraded surface paving, new pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes, street trees, lighting and furniture
• River Park - strategic public amenity enhancement connecting to a wider greenway network. Works will include planting as well as pedestrian and cycle paths with associated lighting, furniture and wayfinding measures on the northern side of the River Blackwater
• Community, Cultural and Educational Facility - social infrastructure for the local community located within a restored building
• Frontage Improvement - works will involve the restoration and lighting of historic frontages to highlight Flower Hill’s built heritage

 
URDF funding for Meath:
The €7.66 million in approved funding is in addition to €10.32 million in approved URDF funding for four ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Ashbourne Road and Public Realm Improvement’; ‘Flowerhill Regeneration Project’; ‘Navan Active Land Management Project’ and ‘Railway Street Regeneration and County Archive’. 
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €17.98 million 
 
Wicklow County Council projects
 
Bray Harbour Area Integrated Regeneration – €7.14 million
This project focuses on the regeneration of the Bray Harbour Area and releasing various sites for future development through a series of integrated elements. The overall vision is to re-imagine and regenerate the strategically located waterfront area of Bray; to increase economic activity, amenity, and connectivity to public transport, the sea-front and esplanade.  The aim is to deliver a vibrant public amenity that will be of great benefit to residents and visitors alike. Works envisaged include:

• Amenity and Public Realm – extension of amenity areas, improvement of streetscape, parking, cycle provision and sporting facilities
• Promenade Board Walk - linking the promenade with the harbour
• Cycle Bridge  - to relieve a pinch point at the Dargle Bridge crossing
• Relocation of boat storage to the north of the harbour

 
URDF funding for Wicklow:
The €7.14 million in approved funding is in addition to €13.42 million in approved URDF funding for three ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Bray Public Transport Bridge’; ‘Arklow Historic Town Core’; and ‘Wicklow Town’. 
 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €20.56 million
 
Analysis of the Mid-East region’s needs
This region’s strategic location, proximate to the capital, has resulted in significant regional development characterised by the dominance of Dublin. However, the region is also characterised by a range of large towns. To support the ongoing development of the region, a more balanced and sustainable pattern of development is required. The focus of the approved URDF projects will go some way to addressing local infrastructure needs and the legacy of rapid growth.
 
Urban Regeneration and Development Fund
The URDF is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027. It has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027. Its aim is to support more compact and sustainable development in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban areas. Funding is aimed at projects that support the NDP objectives and the NPF’s ten ‘national strategic outcomes’, which include compact growth; enhanced regional accessibility; and sustainable mobility. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for administering the URDF.   
The five chosen projects are consistent with the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly’s Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, and where relevant, the Dublin Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan
Through the URDF, successful applicants receive targeted, integrated funding for innovative solutions to issues that have hindered urban regeneration and rejuvenation. The fund part-funds projects that will deliver a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development within the existing built-up footprints of cities and large towns.
The URDF’s significant capital investment acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration, development and growth. The IDA has already acknowledged the URDF’s important role in creating a sense of place, something considered essential for increasing Ireland’s attractiveness to foreign investment and strengthening opportunities for indigenous enterprise.
URDF ‘Call 1’ funding: The URDF is already providing assistance for major regeneration projects in Ireland’s larger urban areas. Under ‘Call 1’ of the URDF, 87 projects are being funded. Details were announced in November 2018. These projects are spread across the regions and span a number of the NPF’s objectives. The total provisional allocations to date in respect of these 87 projects is just under €300m.
URDF ‘Call 2’ funding: a second call for funding proposals was announced in January 2020. It focused on (1) integrated urban developments (2) strategic development areas combining a number of elements and (3) schemes that support wider climate action objectives and quality of life factors within cities and towns. Projects aim to deliver compact growth whilst ensuring more of our urban areas become attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work, visit and invest.
More information on the URDF is available at: www.gov.ie/urdf 
 

Letterkenny project to create creative design hub, transformation of historic courthouse and works for future regional transport hub
Sligo projects to create two new libraries, county museum and enhance public realm
Investment will provide much needed stimulus during economic recovery

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, today announced €61.4 million in funding for three regeneration projects in the North-West investment region. 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 projects for which URDF support have been approved are:

• Letterkenny 2040 Phase 1 (Donegal County Council) – €13.60 million
• City Campus - Sligo's Cultural and Learning Hub (Sligo County Council) – €28.68 million
• Implementation of Sligo Public Realm (Sligo County Council) – €19.16 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. Today’s announcement brings the total approved URDF funding for this investment region to date to €72.82 million. Details of the remaining provisional funding allocations for ‘Call 2’ URDF projects in other Project Ireland 2040 investment regions, not already announced, will be announced next week.

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 Donegal and Sligo 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 projects can help to revitalise Letterkenny and Sligo Town. Letterkenny will see new spaces created for a range of uses, included an enterprise space at the historic courthouse. The new spaces to be created for cycling and pedestrians support the Government’s aims of more sustainable transport and low-carbon living in our cities and towns. Sligo’s public realm project will not only enhance the quality of life for people who live, work and visit the town but should help attract investment in developing existing brownfield sites. The project for Sligo’s cultural and learning hub is an example of the URDF funding a project that will develop under-utilised land to bring opportunity and new vibrancy to a place.

“Overall, 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 Donegal and Sligo as our economy emerges from the depths of the pandemic.” 

The Minister 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 Government-funded programmes are for specific types of projects, the URDF funds a diverse set of integrated projects with integrated aims. I look forward to working with Donegal and Sligo County Councils to progress these important projects.”
Minister O’Brien concluded: “I understand there will be some disappointment in terms of projects which were unsuccessful. 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.

ENDS
Note
 
Donegal County Council project
Letterkenny 2040 Phase 1 project - €13.60 million
‘Letterkenny 2040 Phase1’ is a transformative urban regeneration project with a series of inter-related regeneration measures in Letterkenny Town Centre. It is a strategic step in Letterkenny’s longer term regeneration goal to transform the core of the regional cross-border centre as a ‘Place for People and Public Life.’ It builds on the ‘Call 1’ funded project, which involved a Masterplan and site assembly works.
This project consists of five inter-related elements:

• The Cathedral Quarter: these works involve site assembly, design and capital works, including a ‘Creative Design Hub’ together with green urban parkland

• Renewal at Lower Main Street: site assembly to enable future integrated renewal of Main Street

• Revival of the Courthouse: new enterprise space blended with a tourist attraction in the revived historic Courthouse
• Regional Transport Hub: site assembly to enable future development of a regional transport hub

• Letterkenny Green Connect: site assembly to enable cycling and pedestrian space

 
URDF funding for Donegal:
The €13.60 million in approved funding is in addition to €1.94 million in approved funding for the ‘Call 1’ project, ‘Letterkenny 2040’.
Total URDF funding approved to date: €15.54 million 
 
Sligo County Council projects
City Campus - Sligo's Cultural and Learning Hub - €28.68 million
The vision for this area is for it to become a new cultural centre of Sligo Town. This is to happen through the strategic transformation, regeneration and redevelopment of an under-utilised and semi-derelict block of land in the town’s centre. The project will be an exemplar flagship project for the region that will embrace SMART Cities’ technologies and innovative practices. It will also use environmentally sustainable construction practices and materials during all phases of its development, thus assisting with the transition to a low-carbon resilient society.
This project involves the following elements:

• site assembly in key locations

• master planning for the ‘City Campus Project’
• new mixed-use buildings – to include a new county library, IT Sligo academic library, offices and enhanced public realm
• development of a new county museum through conservation, refurbishment, and extension of the existing library building

 
Implementation of Sligo’s Public Realm - €19.16 million
This a strategic, transformative project designed to regenerate and rejuvenate the town and promote its sustainable and compact growth. It is an ambitious and transformative plan that will greatly increase pedestrian mobility, enhance the sense of place and create a more liveable town centre, with the potential to attract further investment towards the development of several brownfield sites. 
This project consists of complementary sub-projects that are follow-on capital works from the master planning and design stage works of the ‘Call 1’ project:

• Sligo Town Public Realm: enhancement works
• Market Cross: the creation of an attractive usable public open space in the heart of the town
• Centre Block enabling measures: the finalisation of the Centre Block Master Plan and site assembly works to facilitate the inclusion of a cultural flagship project in this new quarter of the town
• Quay Street Car Park: the redevelopment of car park into a new public space
• Markievicz Bridge: the construction of a footbridge to aid pedestrian circulation around the town
• Old Market Street/Teeling Street junction - enhancement of this junction to create a gateway entrance to the town centre from the south east
• Implementation of a ‘Wayfinding and Interpretation Strategy for Sligo’: the aim is to enhance the visitor experience and improve wayfinding around Sligo Town Centre. Implementation will address both interpretation as well as orientation.

 
URDF funding for Sligo:
The €47.84 million in approved funding is in addition to €9.44 million in approved URDF funding for four ‘Call 1’ projects: ‘Eastern Garavogue Bridge’; ‘O’ Connell Street Enhancement’; ‘Sligo Cultural Plaza’ and ‘Sligo Public Realm’. 
Total URDF funding approved to date: €57.29 million 
 
Analysis of the North-West region’s needs
The North-West is spatially unique within the island of Ireland due to its extensive coastline and its proximity to Northern Ireland. Historically, the North- Western part of the island has demonstrated significant resilience in competing for investment. Enhancing the urban structure of this region is key to sustaining and supporting its continued development, particularly with respect to North-South co-operation, exemplified by the North-West Growth Partnership.
 
Urban Regeneration and Development Fund
The URDF is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027. It has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027. Its aim is to support more compact and sustainable development in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban areas. Funding is aimed at projects that support the NDP objectives and the NPF’s ten ‘national strategic outcomes’, which include compact growth; enhanced regional accessibility; and sustainable mobility. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for administering the URDF.   
The five chosen projects are consistent with the Northern and Western Regional Assembly’s Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.
Through the URDF, successful applicants receive targeted, integrated funding for innovative solutions to issues that have hindered urban regeneration and rejuvenation. The fund part-funds projects that will deliver a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development within the existing built-up footprints of cities and large towns.
The URDF’s significant capital investment acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration, development and growth. The IDA has already acknowledged the URDF’s important role in creating a sense of place, something considered essential for increasing Ireland’s attractiveness to foreign investment and strengthening opportunities for indigenous enterprise.

URDF ‘Call 1’ funding: The URDF is already providing assistance for major regeneration projects in Ireland’s larger urban areas. Under ‘Call 1’ of the URDF, 87 projects are being funded. Details were announced in November 2018. These projects are spread across the regions and span a number of the NPF’s objectives. The total provisional allocations to date in respect of these 87 projects is just under €300m.
URDF ‘Call 2’ funding: a second call for funding proposals was announced in January 2020. It focused on (1) integrated urban developments (2) strategic development areas combining a number of elements and (3) schemes that support wider climate action objectives and quality of life factors within cities and towns. Projects aim to deliver compact growth whilst ensuring more of our urban areas become attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work, visit and invest.
More information on the URDF is available at: www.gov.ie/urdf