The new Urban Regeneration plan is set to bring a number of benefits to Portlaoise – according to the chairperson of the Portlaoise Municipal District.
Fianna Fail’s Catherine Fitzgerald says she is confident that Portlaoise will be successful in its application for a slice of the pie.
She said: “As Cathaoirleach of Portlaoise Municipal District, I was delighted to welcome Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy to The Midlands Park Hotel on Monday for The Urban Regeneration and Development Seminar.
“As part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government announced the establishment of a new Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).
“The fund will be a competitive, bid-based programme that will operate on a multi-annual basis.
“I would like to acknowledge the work that Portlaoise Town Team under the leadership of Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services with Laois County Council, have undertaken in recent months in planning for Portlaoise Town Centre Regeneration Project.
“Our Chief Executive Officer, John Mulholland and his team also deserve huge credit for preparing and delivering a very professional and compelling presentation.
“The decision will be announced in the coming months and I am very hopeful that our application for funding will be successful.
“This has the potential to have huge social, economic and environmental benefits to the town of Portlaoise.”
Portlaoise is poised to apply for its share of €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) to revitalise its town centre.
As a key part of Project Ireland 2040 – the Government’s National Planning Framework and National Development Plan – the fund is intended to drive regeneration and rejuvenation of strategic and underutilised areas within Ireland’s five cities, key regional drivers and other large towns.
The fund is one of four such funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) has responsibility for implementing the fund, which has €100m available for expenditure in 2019 and an overall allocation of €550 million allocated to the fund up to the end of 2022.
SEE ALSO – Tributes played as popular local teacher retires
