‘Game changer’: Whopping €22.9m funding boost announced for Limerick regeneration projects

A WHOPPING €22.9 million in funding has been allocated for Limerick under the new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.

Bank Place & Granary Courtyard Public Realm and Central Plaza Common Area will receive €7.5m, Southside Connectivity will receive €6m, Nicholas Street Public Realm Scheme will receive €9m and Limerick Fashion Incubator and Prospect/Hyde road area will respectively benefit to the tune of €150,000.

Up to €150,000 will also be available to progress the Newcastle West Town Centre Public Realm Enhancement Project, one of six Limerick projects selected under the new Government programme.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, announced the list of projects that will be included under the new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund programme on Monday.

With almost 120 projects across every local authority in the State, this new Government investment will fund transformative town and city regeneration projects.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan commented:

“This is great news for Newcastle West and another important investment in the future of the town.

“The €150,000 will help progress plans to improve the town centre and make Newcastle West an even better place to live, work, shop and visit.

“As someone from Newcastle West, I know the potential of our town. I want to see continued investment that supports local businesses, strengthens the town centre and makes it a better place for the whole community.

“I’ll continue working to ensure Newcastle West gets its fair share of Government investment.”

Nationally, €409 million is being made available for almost 120 regeneration projects across the country.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Limerick TD Niall Collins, added:

“I really welcome this announcement by Minister Browne, particularly the significant allocation for Limerick City and County Council.

“As a representative of rural Limerick, I want to specifically welcome the funding allocation for the Newcastle West Town Centre Public Realm Enhancement Project. The centres of our rural towns and villages should be vibrant places for people to live, work and live their lives.

“I welcome this major injection of funding by Minister Browne and support the Government’s efforts to make our towns and villages vibrant places for local communities.”

Fianna Fáil TD Willie O'Dea also welcomed the announcement, saying:

“I am extremely pleased to see this level of funding coming to Limerick city and county. This has the potential to be a game changer for the projects involved and for the communities they serve. “I have been delighted to work with and support these projects, and today’s announcement represents a major vote of confidence in their plans and in the future of our area. “This investment will help unlock regeneration, support new development and make a difference for the people who live, work and raise their families in these communities.

“I want to thank Minister James Browne for his work in delivering this funding and, importantly, for understanding the potential these projects have and the significant impact this investment can have on the wider area.”

Deputy O'Dea concluded by saying: “This funding will have a significant and lasting impact on our communities, and I look forward to seeing these projects now progress.”

Projects prioritised include the redevelopment of vacant or underused sites, public realm enhancements, and community and civic infrastructure.

The fund will support policies such as ‘Town Centre First’ and seek to focus funding in the most disadvantaged areas of our towns and cities. An investment of €409 million will be available if local authorities can meet the targets set out in their applications for support.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD said:

"I want the centres of our towns and cities to be places people want to hang out in, meet up, do the shopping and live in.

“We have to improve these areas in our towns because not only should they look well, but they should be usable and accessible. They should be places where everyone from teenagers to older people feel safe in and want to use, be proud of and enjoy.

“I am committing a major injection of funding for towns around the country and I want to see transformative regeneration. I know it’s badly needed particularly in some areas.

“People are frustrated with decline in some of our towns and I want to see councils put this funding to good use and quickly.

“I am funding what I see as a really decent pipeline of good projects that have an eye to the future.

“I am particularly pleased to include over 30 projects that will be designed for, or built in, areas of disadvantage, providing local authorities with the money to drive on with much needed regeneration and renewal in key areas where local communities cannot and should not be left behind.

"I wish to commend local authorities for their submissions which reflect their ambition and commitment to the programme. I would also like to thank the community groups and social enterprises who have collaborated with them in creating projects that will have a lasting effect on their locality."

The Department will now begin contacting local authorities regarding the next steps they need to take to deliver on this ambition.