2019 Update Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
The Mid-East (Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly) Key Facts and Projects
NSO 1 - Compact Growth 1,079 new social housing builds in the Mid-East in 2019 4,648 total new dwelling completions in the Mid-East in 2019 11 successful applicants to the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in 2018. Second call closure for applications extended to 29 May 2020 given Covid-19 crisis
NSO 2 - Enhanced Regional Connectivity The M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass Widening – construction stage M11 Capacity Enhancement (Phase 1 & Phase 2) – preliminary business case stage R407 Sallins Bypass – implementation stage N2 Slane Bypass – preliminary business case stage Athy Southern Distributor Road – final business case stage Laytown to Bettystown Link Road – at planning stage
NSO 3 - Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities 4 projects were approved for funding from the first call of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
NSO 4 - Sustainable Mobility The Dart Expansion Programme to Drogheda, Celbridge and Maynooth. Initial sequencing of investment in the Mid-East will focus on electrification of these lines In 2019 planning and design continued in relation to the overall Dart Expansion programme.
NSO 5 - A Strong Economy, supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills 13,435 in IDA supported employment, 21,258 in EI supported employment 3 successful applicants for the latest round of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund 1 successful project partner under Call 2 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund
NSO 6 - High Quality International Connectivity Dublin Port which is progressing a c.€230 million infrastructural investment at the port to accommodate larger sea-going vessels and to increase capacity
NSO 7 - Enhanced Amenity and Heritage Over €5m has been allocated to develop a 46km stretch of the Barrow Blueway, located along the Grand Canal Barrow Line from Lowtown to Athy in Co.Kildare 132 successful applicants from the Mid-East in the last round of the Sports Capital Programme The average sports capital grant for the region was €35,405
NSO 8 - Climate-Resilient Society Twelve flood relief schemes including the Arklow Flood Relief Scheme
NSO 9 - Sustainable Management of Water and other Environmental Resources There are currently 15 water and wastewater projects in progress in the Mid-East e.g. the Meath Water Mains Rehabilitation Project.
NSO 10 - Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services 5 schools projects were delivered in the Mid-East in 2019 A further 73 schools projects are at various stages of planning, design and construction There will be three healthcare projects completed in 2020, including the Primary Care Centre in Rathdrum Co. Wicklow
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
1. Project Ireland 2040
This document sets out the projects and programmes which are being planned and delivered in the Mid-East as part of the public investment detailed in Project Ireland 2040 - the Government’s National Planning Framework and National Development Plan. Project Ireland 2040 set out ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs), built around the over-arching themes of well-being, equality and opportunity. This document sets out the main achievements under each NSO in 2019, for the Mid-East region. These documents serve to highlight the diverse range of investment being made by the State across the country under Project Ireland 2040 – a list of the major projects in the Mid-East is contained in the Appendix. The document draws on information from a wide range of publicly available sources, as well as material provided by Government Departments and Agencies.
2. The Mid-East and Project Ireland 2040 Area
The Mid-East has experienced high levels of population growth in recent decades at more than twice the national growth rate. Managing the challenges of future growth is critical to this area. A more balanced and sustainable pattern of development, with a greater focus on addressing employment creation, local infrastructure needs and addressing the legacy of rapid growth, must be prioritised.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3. Progress against National Strategic Outcomes
3.1 National Strategic Outcome 1 – Compact Growth
This outcome aims to secure the sustainable growth of more compact urban and rural settlements supported by jobs, houses, services and amenities, rather than continued sprawl and unplanned, uneconomic growth. There were 1,079 social housing new builds in the Mid-East in 2019 with more planned in 2020.
In line with the national increase in new houses being built, there were 4,648 new dwelling completions in the Mid-East in 2019. Table 1: Social Housing Completions in 2019 Mid-East Total New Build Kildare County Council 453 Meath County Council 351 Wicklow County Council 275 Total 1,079 Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
Table 2: Total Housing Completions in 2019 Mid-East New Dwelling Completions Kildare County Council 1,899 Meath County Council 1,633 Wicklow County Council 1,116 Total 4,648 Source: Central Statistics Office
Table 3: Total Planning Permissions in 2019 Planning Region and County Houses Multi One off Private Total development houses flats/ houses apartments Mid-East - Totals 3,970 3,336 634 1,979 1,597 Kildare 1,567 1,406 161 576 3,710 Meath 1,752 1,437 315 1,054 4,558 Wicklow 651 493 158 349 1,651 Source: Central Statistics Office
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) will help to rejuvenate significant but underused areas in Ireland’s five cities and other large towns. In the Mid-East these include: Bray, Newbridge, Naas, Celbridge, Greystones, Leixlip, Maynooth, Arklow, Ashbourne, Laytown- Bettystown-Mornington, Wicklow and Trim.
The URDF is a key part of Project Ireland 2040 and has a total budget of €2 billion over the period to 2027. The aim of the URDF is to stimulate new residential and commercial development in our larger cities and towns. New services and amenities will support these new developments, and help to achieve the ‘compact growth’ also set out in Project Ireland 2040.
In total, 11 projects were approved for funding from the first call of the URDF in 2018. The second call closure for applications was extended to 29 May 2020 given the Covid-19 crisis.
Table 4a: Successful Applicants for the latest round of the Urban RDF in the Mid-East Category A (Ready Category B Total per County Mid-East to Go) (to be developed) Kildare County Council 1 3 4 Meath County Council 2 2 4 Wicklow County Council 3 0 3 Total 6 5 11 Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
Table 4b: Successful Applicants for the latest round of the Urban RDF in the Mid-East Applicant County Description Kildare Kildare Naas Library (including Public Realm works). The proposal County is for the redevelopment and rejuvenation of Naas Town Council Hall to provide a library and cultural centre. The vision is to create an iconic library, cultural and public space in the heart of the historic town of Naas.
Kildare Kildare Celbridge Southern Relief Road and Second Liffey County Crossing. Technical assistance for the advancement of the Council Celbridge Southern Relief Road and Second Liffey Crossing.
Kildare Kildare Canal Quarter Naas. Project is for technical assistance to County develop area known as Canal Quarter in Naas, as the Council cultural and creative district of Naas. The aim is to address the challenges affecting Naas town centre through a plan led transformation of this underutilised area of town while connecting the town centre to peripheral areas in a sustainable and permeable manner. This will be achieved though utilising and investing in the Canal Quarter’s existing assets and developing new cultural, civic and retail activities, community amenities and mixed residential/commercial development.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Kildare Kildare Newbridge Cultural and Civic Quarter. Project relates to County plans to reinvigorate the historic heart of Newbridge and Council enable the creation of a Cultural and Civic Quarter. Funding will allow for project establishment, stakeholder engagement and feasibility study. Meath County Meath Ashbourne Road and Public Realm Improvement. Funding Council for significant public realm improvements and enhancement of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
Meath County Meath Navan Active Land Management Project. As part of the Council regeneration of the County town of Navan, financial support will be provided to Meath Co. Council to tackle priority derelict sites in the town.
Meath County Meath Flowerhill Regeneration Project. Technical assistance for an Council urban regeneration and development framework for the Flowerhill area of Navan.
Meath County Meath Railway Street Regeneration and County Archive. Council Technical assistance for urban regeneration plan for entire lands comprising historic building of St. Patrick’s classical school and the Council’s former offices in Navan. Wicklow Wicklow Bray Public Transport Bridge. Support for the provision of a County new public transport bridge over the river Dargle. This will Council unlock lands at the former Bray Golf Club site and adjoining brownfield opportunity sites within Bray.
Wicklow Wicklow Arklow Historic Town Core. This project will transform the County streetscape and public realm in the historic core of Arklow, Council including a plaza and rationalisation of the existing courthouse building.
Wicklow Wicklow Wicklow Town. This project involves the relocation, County upgrading of the library, Fitzwilliam Square upgrade, and Council street improvement. Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.2 National Strategic Outcome 2 – Enhanced Regional Connectivity
A core priority under the National Planning Framework (NPF) is the essential requirement to enhance and upgrade accessibility between urban centres of population and their regions, in parallel with the compact growth of urban centres.
There are six major regional transport projects planned for the Mid-East, including M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass Widening, the M11 Capacity Enhancement (Phase 1 & Phase 2), the Sallins Bypass, the Slane Bypass, the Athy Southern Distributor Road and the Laytown to Bettystown Link Road. Statuses M7 Naas Road Widening - contract construction completion October 2019. M11 Capacity Enhancement (Phase 1 & Phase 2) - pre-appraisal plan and Phase 1 Feasibility stage have been completed. The local authority has now received approval from TII to advance this project to the Phase 2 Option Selection stage. R407 Sallins Bypass - construction commenced Q4 2017. N2 Slane Bypass - at route selection stage. Athy Southern Distributor Road - at land acquisition stage and advance works. Laytown to Bettystown Link Road - expected to go into construction in 2020.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.3 National Strategic Outcome 3 – Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities
The full participation of rural communities in the strategic development as envisaged under the National Planning Framework (NPF) is imperative to achieving the full potential of a broad range of strategic outcomes detailed in the National Development Plan (NDP). This applies both in terms of the traditional pillars of the rural economy, the natural resource and food sector, as well as those emerging from such developments as improved connectivity, broadband and rural economic development opportunities.
As part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed to providing an additional €1 billion for a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over the period 2019 to 2027. The Fund will provide investment to support rural renewal for suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. It will be administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
4 projects for the Mid-East were approved for funding from the second call of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Table 5: Projects approved for funding under the second call of the Rural RDF in the Mid- East Applicant Project County Description Total RRDF Funding € Kildare Barrow Kildare The project will develop a 46km stretch of €5,067,941 County Blueway, the Barrow Blueway, located along the Council 46km Grand Canal Barrow Line from Lowtown to Athy in Co. Kildare, taking in Vicarstown in Co. Laois. The Blueway will be an exciting recreational resource for the communities nearby and visitors to the areas, with the potential to deliver significant tourism and economic benefits, while also securing the natural amenities and ecosystem which the canal provides.
Meath Trim Library Meath This is a regeneration project which will €3,718,670 County and Cultural redevelop the existing library in Trim and Council Centre the adjacent chapel to provide a multifunctional space that will include an extended library and a theatre. This facility will contribute to the ongoing and sustainable regeneration of Trim and provide an important community and visitor facility in the town centre.
Meath Kells Creative Meath This heritage led regeneration project €992,834 County Placemaking involves the regeneration of two heritage Council (Phase 1) - buildings in the town centre - the former Kells Courthouse and a former sawmills – to Courthouse become the Kells Courthouse Cultural Cultural Hub Hub and Kells Printworks and Centre for and Kells Typography. The project will help attract Printworks artists, students and other visitors to the and town and drive cultural and economic Topography activity in Kells. Centre Wicklow Making Wicklow This project will restore and redevelop €2,675,226 County Baltinglass the Baltinglass Courthouse for use as a new Council Hub for South library and heritage hub and convert the West Wicklow old library into a Digihub, as well as deliver significant public realm improvements. The regeneration of these key sites and the improved townscape will deliver greater activity in the town centre. Source: Department of Rural and Community Development
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.4 National Strategic Outcome 4 – Sustainable Mobility
The expansion of attractive and sustainable public transport alternatives to private car based transport will reduce congestion and emissions and enable the transport sector to cater in an environmentally sustainable way for the demands associated with longer-term population and employment growth envisaged under the National Planning Framework (NPF). Furthermore, the provision of safe, alternative, active travel options such as segregated cycling and walking facilities can help alleviate congestion and meet climate action objectives by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure.
The Dart Expansion Programme will provide fast, high frequency electrified services to Drogheda on the Northern Line, Celbridge/Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line, Maynooth and M3 Parkway on the Maynooth/Sligo Line. In 2019 planning and design continued in relation to the overall Dart Expansion programme.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.5 National Strategic Outcome 5 – A Strong Economy, supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills
A competitive, innovative and resilient enterprise base is essential to provide the jobs and employment opportunities for people to live and prosper in all regions. Achieving the ambitious employment targets in the National Planning Framework (NPF) in the context of increased global uncertainty, Brexit, the response to Covid-19 and technological disruption, underlines the importance of building competitive regional clusters and generating an uplift in enterprise export competitiveness to secure sustainable jobs and growth.
The Enterprise Development Agencies continued to support an innovative and resilient enterprise base in 2019.
Table 6: Agency Supported Employment in the Mid-East in 2019
Total Employment 345,600 IDA Ireland Employment 13,435 Enterprise Ireland Employment 21,258 Source: CSO and Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
The Regional Enterprise Development Fund is about supporting every region to build on its unique strengths and ultimately create sustainable jobs. Collaboration is at its core – among the public and private sectors, within and across regions. In January 2020, the successful applicants of the third round of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund worth over €40 million were announced. The Fund, which is administered for the Government by Enterprise Ireland, will operate on a rolling basis as part of Project Ireland 2040.
Table 7: Successful Applicants for the latest round of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund in the Mid-East Project County Description Fund Approved Clermont Wicklow The Content Creation Enterprise Hub at Wicklow €1,434,000 Enterprise Hub County Campus, Rathnew, will provide 10,000 sq. ft CLG of private and co-working spaces in a dynamic and synergetic environment for creative/media cross- fertilisation. It will offer specialised and customised, sector specific business supports that drive start-ups and internationalisation in the Irish content creation sector. UCD Nova Kildare The AgTech Connector Consortium (AIB, Kildare €3,002,441 DAC CoCo/LEO, AgTech companies, Teagasc, TCD, WIT, Yield Lab, Finistere Ventures etc.) will develop a state-of-the-art AgTech Innovation Hub at UCD Lyons Farm in Co. Kildare and will deliver a Nationwide AgTech Innovation Challenge Programme, in order to drive the creation and expansion of knowledge-intensive AgTech ventures, generating 642 jobs, predominantly in rural areas across the regions.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
National The NACEC Regional Transformation Programme is €369,600 Association of a step change project of tailored actions for the Community community enterprise sector to realise Enterprise transformation, growth and future proofing of the Centres CLG Enterprise Centre Business model in Ireland to enable centres to continue to accelerate economic (NACEC) recovery in all regions of the country by delivering on the potential of local and regional enterprise strengths. Source: Enterprise Ireland
As part of Project Ireland 2040, the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) will see investment in the development and deployment of disruptive innovative technologies and applications, on a commercial basis, targeted at tackling national and global challenges. The fund will drive collaboration between our world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies, seeding a new wave of start-ups.
There was one project partner from the Mid-East Region in a successful application under the second Call of the Disruptive Innovation Technology Fund (with two under the first Call in 2018), as detailed in Table 8 below.
Table 8: Successful Applicants for the first round of the Disruptive Innovation Technology Fund in the Mid-East Lead Applicant Consortium County Description Partners IBM Ireland Ltd Tyndall National Dublin, This project is using Quantum Institute; Kildare and Computing to develop a software University Cork platform for multiple qubit technologies, College Dublin; to explore their potential to address National challenging problems arising in areas University of such as financial services, logistics or Ireland drug discovery. Maynooth; Rockley Photonics Ireland Ltd; Master Card Ireland Ltd; Equal 1 Laboratories Source: Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Enterprise Ireland in the Mid-East
In 2019, 21,258 people were employed in 515 Enterprise Ireland (EI) supported companies in the Mid-East Region. EI supports all sectors with success in Construction, BPO, Fintech, Food and Lifesciences. Enterprise Ireland has co-funded, with local enterprise development groups, 175 Community Enterprise Centres across the country including 9 in the Mid-East. The Technology Centre Programme is a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland allowing Irish companies and multinationals to work together in these centres. Technology Centres are collaborative entities established and led by industry. These centres are resourced by highly qualified researchers associated with research institutions who are empowered to undertake market focused strategic R&D for the benefit of industry. The Innovation Value Institute Technology Centre is located in Maynooth University. Enterprise Ireland has funded the establishment of a national network of business innovation centres and specialist bio-incubation facilities across the Higher Education Sector including MaynoothWorks located in the region. EI supports and collaborates with Higher Education Institutes in the region including Maynooth University through Innovation supports such as the Commercialisation Fund, Innovation Partnerships and Innovation Vouchers.
Local Enterprise Offices
The Mid-East Re##gion is served by its Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, which are co-located with the Local Authorities. In 2019, the LEOs operating in the Mid- East Region supported an additional 268 jobs from 2018 (total of 3,443 jobs) and the establishment of 53 new companies, bringing the total number of companies supported by the LEOs in the Mid- East Region to 625.
IDA in the Mid-East Region
The Mid-East Region includes the counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. The region is home to 68 IDA supported companies recording employment of 13,435 for 2019.
To support the delivery of IDA’s current strategy (Winning FDI 2015-2019), IDA has a number of flagship Business Parks in key locations across the region; Navan, Drogheda, Greystones and Arklow. Private developments such as Millennium Park in Naas, Liffey Business Campus in Leixlip and City North in Stamullen provide a range of strategic property solutions helping attract FDI into the region. IDA also works closely with the private sector to secure the provision of appropriate and cost- effective building and property solutions suitable for FDI clients.
Higher Education
Project Ireland 2040 will bring further investment in Higher Education in the Mid-East.
Maynooth University, Technology Society and Innovation Building is one of five projects approved in principle in 2019 under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.6 National Strategic Outcome 6 – High-Quality International Connectivity
As an island, continued investment in our port and airport connections to the UK, the EU and the rest of the world, is integral to underpinning international competitiveness. It is also central to responding to the challenges, as well as the opportunities arising from Brexit.
The Mid-East will benefit from its close access to Dublin Airport and the ongoing construction of the North runway, as well as Dublin Port, which is progressing a €230 million infrastructural investment at the port to accommodate larger sea-going vessels and to increase capacity.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.7 National Strategic Outcome 7 – Enhanced Amenity and Heritage
The National Planning Framework (NPF) recognises the value of cultural heritage as a key component of, and contributor to, the attractiveness and sustainability of our cities, towns, villages and rural areas in terms of developing cultural creative spaces, private inward investment, and attracting and retaining talent and enterprise.
Heritage
Investment will improve the condition and visitor experience at National Monument sites such as Brú na Bóinne.
Barrow Blueway
Over €5m has been allocated via the RRDF to develop a 46km stretch of the Barrow Blueway, located along the Grand Canal Barrow Line from Lowtown to Athy in Co. Kildare, taking in Vicarstown in Co. Laois. The Blueway will be an exciting recreational resource for the communities nearby and visitors to the areas, with the potential to deliver significant tourism and economic benefits while also securing the natural amenities and ecosystem which the canal provides.
Sports
The Sports Capital Programme is the primary means of providing Government support to sports clubs and organisations for sports capital works. The most recent allocations under the Programme were made at the end of 2019, with €37 million allocated to sporting clubs and organisations throughout the country.
Table 9a: Successful applicants to the latest round of capital sports grants Mid-East Successful Applicants Average Grant € Kildare 45 €39,159 Meath 56 €32,224 Wicklow 31 €34,833 Total 132 €35,405 Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Table 9b: Large successful applicants to the latest round of capital sports grants Mid-East Successful Applicants Grant € Kildare Naas Sports Group Mgt Ltd €92,348
Meath Drumbaragh GFC €77,038
Wicklow Kiltegan GAA Club €85,634
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (largest of each county)
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Table 9c: Latest successful applicants to the Stream 2 Sports Capital Grants Mid-East Successful Applicants Grant € Meath Modernising Páirc Tailteann €6,273,139
Meath Linear Walkway and Playing Fields €2,012,276 Rooske Road, Dunboyne, Co. Meath
Kildare Redevelopment of St Conleths Kildare €4,875,000 GAA Ground, Newbridge, Co Kildare
Wicklow Wicklow Swimming Pool and Leisure €864,177 Centre
Wicklow Charlesland Athletics Track Scheme, Co €309,642 Wicklow
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.8 National Strategic Outcome 8 – Climate-Resilient Society
The National Planning Framework (NPF) highlights the centrality of this National Strategic Outcome (NSO) to all other elements of spatial policy. The themes highlighted in the NPF focus on the role of spatial policy in influencing where we live, where we work, and how we travel. These are all directly relevant to the pattern of energy use and in particular, the current level of harmful greenhouse gas emissions to which Ireland is committed to achieving substantial reductions.
There are 12 flood relief schemes currently ongoing or planned for the Mid-East Region, 6 in Kildare, 1 in Meath and 5 in Wicklow. These include the Arklow Flood relief scheme.
The second year of Project Ireland 2040 has also seen major investment by the commercial state sector in energy, involving ESB/EirGrid.
In the Mid-East, investment plans include the North-South Interconnector Project and a proposed electricity infrastructure project by EirGrid/ESB to strengthen the electricity network between the Dunstown substation in Kildare and the Woodland station in Meath. The Kellystown Project is a new electricity substation in the area of Ryebrook that will connect to the existing 220kV line that runs from Maynooth to Woodland.
Four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) were established in 2018 to facilitate effective climate action at regional and local level. The CAROs are operated by a lead Local Authority in four different regions around the country. Counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow are covered by the Midlands and Eastern Region CARO, which is operated by Kildare County Council.
Homes
Grants to improve home energy efficiency are available nationwide.
Table 10a: Home Energy Grant schemes in the Mid-East Counties Number of homes completed Amount paid (€,000) Wicklow 461 €2,489,552 Kildare 931 €2,696,806 Meath 1,976 €3,267,530 Total 3,368 €8,453,888 Source: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Commercial
Grants are available for large energy users and SMES to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, equipment and processes.
Table 10b: SME Lighting Scheme in the Mid-East Counties Number of Grants Average Total Grant Grant Value Value Kildare 2 €2,494 €4,987 Meath 4 €5,282 €21,129 Wicklow 0 €0 €0 Source: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Table 10c: Agri Scheme in the Mid-East Counties Number of Grants Average Total Grant Grant Value Value Kildare 3 €3,249 €9,746 Meath 7 €4,567 €31,972 Wicklow 6 €2,978 €17,868 Source: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED)
The Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) scheme administered by SEAI provides support for businesses to consider the most efficient processes when commissioning or designing a new project process or asset.
Table 10d: EXEED Grant Sectors by Region and County 2019 in the Mid-East County Value (€) Sector Kildare 125,571 Private Kildare 26,340 Public Meath 73,973 Private Meath 0 Public Wicklow 9,797 Private Wicklow 0 Public Source: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Public Sector
Since 2017, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) has funded partnership pathfinder programmes to deliver energy upgrades to public sector buildings. The fundamental objective of each is to test approaches, build best practice and capacity, and develop a scalable model for large energy retrofit investment, which can be replicated throughout the wider public sector and schools. During 2019, three partnership programmes were funded - SEAI/DES Retrofit Programme in schools, SEAI/OPW Retrofit Programme in OPW Buildings and SEAI / HSE Retrofit Programme. For 2019, a total of €14.5m funding was provided, €9.1m from DCCAE, which contributed to the retrofit of 95 buildings nationally.
Table 10e: Wider Public Sector Grants in the Mid-East No. of PSBs Value (€) Average Grant County Value (€) 3 107,000 35,666 Kildare 3 62,740 20,913 Meath 0 0 0 Wicklow Source: Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.9 National Strategic Outcome 9 – Sustainable Management of Water and other Environmental Resources
The National Planning Framework (NPF) highlights the centrality of our sustainable water resources to underpin our environmental and economic well-being into the future against the backdrop of the significant deficits in the capacity and quality of our current provision reflecting historic underinvestment.
There are currently 15 water and wastewater projects in progress in the Mid-East e.g. the Meath Water Mains Rehabilitation Project that will replace a 5.2km water mains in Kells which are prone to frequent bursts and leakage. This €8.5 million project will improve security of water supply to business and residents across Meath including Kells.
Table 11: Irish Water Projects Mid-West Completed In Progress Planned Kildare 2 5 1 Meath 3 7 3 Wicklow 3 3 2 Total 8 15 6 Source: Irish Water
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
3.10 National Strategic Outcome 10 – Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services
Access to quality primary education, health services and childcare, relative to the scale of a region, city, town, neighbourhood or community is a defining characteristic of attractive, successful and competitive places. Project Ireland 2040 provides significant public investment in education and health infrastructure to meet current infrastructure needs, cater for an estimated population growth of one million and respond to Ireland’s changing demographic profile.
There were 5 school projects delivered in the Mid-East in 2019.
Table 12: Schools Projects Delivered in 2019 in the Mid-East No. County School School Type 1 Meath Eureka Secondary School Post Primary 2 Kildare Maynooth ETNS Phase 1 Primary St Michael's National School, 3 Meath Trim, Co Meath Primary 4 Meath St Colmcille's BNS, Kells Primary 5 Meath St Oliver's PP School, Oldcastle Post Primary Source: Department of Education and Skills
A further 73 schools projects were at various stages of planning, design and construction in the Mid- East.
Table 13: Status of School Delivery in 2019 in the Mid-East No. County School Name & Address School Project Status
1 Kildare Hewetson NS Project Brief Stage 2 Kildare Mercy Convent, Naas On Site
3 Kildare Scoil Eimhinn Naofa & St Peter's NS, Stage 2b (Detailed Monasterevin Design) 4 Kildare St Joseph's BNS, Kilcock Stage 3 (Tender Stage)
5 Kildare St. Corban's NS, Naas Stage 1
6 Kildare Maynooth BNS Stage 3 (Tender Stage)
7 Kildare St Conleth's/ St Mary's, Newbridge Stage 3 (Tender Stage)
8 Kildare St Conleth's Infant school Stage 3 (Tender Stage)
9 Kildare Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Athy Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 10 Kildare St Raphael's Special School Site Acquisition Process 11 Kildare St Anne's Special School, Ballymany Stage 2b (Detailed Cross, Curragh Design) 12 Kildare St. Mark's Special School, Newbridge Procurement of Design Team has commenced 13 Kildare St Patrick's BNS, Clane Stage 2b (Detailed Design)
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
14 Kildare Scoil Naomh Padraig, Celbridge Site Acquisition Process 15 Kildare Maynooth ETNS On Site 16 Kildare Leixlip Primary - Leixlip ETNS School opened in September 2019 in interim start-up accommodation. Site Acquisition Process 17 Kildare Maynooth Primary - Gaelscoil Ruairí School opened in September 2019 in interim start-up accommodation. Site Acquisition Process 18 Kildare Naas Primary School to open in 2021. Site Acquisition Process 19 Kildare Patrician Post Primary, Newbridge Procurement of Design Team has commenced 20 Kildare Cross & Passion Secondary School, Procurement of Design Kilcullen Team has commenced 21 Kildare St Pauls' Secondary School, Monasterevin Stage 3 (Tender Stage) 22 Kildare St. Mary's Girls Post Primary, Naas Procurement of Design Team has commenced 23 Kildare Athy Community College Stage 1 (Preliminary Design) 24 Kildare Maynooth PP, Moyglare Rd, Maynooth On Site 25 Kildare St Farnan's Post Primary, Prosperous Stage 1 (Preliminary Design) 26 Kildare Maynooth Community College On Site
27 Kildare Naas Community College On Site
28 Kildare Celbridge Community School Site Acquisition Process 29 Meath St Joseph's Mercy Convent NS, Navan Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 30 Meath SN Cros Bán, Whitecross, Julianstown On Site 31 Meath SN Na Trionoide Naofa, Lios Muilinn Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 32 Meath St. Ultan's Special School, Navan Project Brief Stage
33 Meath St Paul's NS, Abbeylands, Navan On Site
34 Meath Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Laytown Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 35 Meath Dunboyne Junior NS & Snr NS Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 36 Meath St. Peter's N.S.Dunboyne Stage 1 (Preliminary Design) 37 Meath Ard Rí Community NS Project Brief Stage
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
38 Meath Trim ETNS Stage 1 (Preliminary Design) 39 Meath Dunshaughlin Primary - Dunshaughlin No enrolments in CNS September 2019. Opening being deferred. Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 40 Meath Ashbourne Community N.S. School opened in September 2019 in interim start-up accommodation. Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 41 Meath Enfield Post Primary School to open in 2020. Site acquisition process. Stage 2a (Developed Sketch Scheme) 42 Meath St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School, Project Brief Stage Navan 43 Kildare Maynooth PP, Moyglare Rd, Maynooth Stage 0 44 Meath Franciscan College, Gormanston Procurement of Design Team has commenced 45 Meath Scoil Mhuire, Trim Project Brief Stage / Site Acquisition 46 Meath O'Carolan College, Nobber Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 47 Meath Ratoath Community College Stage 3 (Tender Stage)
48 Meath Coláiste na Mí, Phase 2 & Campus Project Stage 2b (Detailed with St Marys Special Sch 19560T Design) 49 Meath ETB, Dunboyne College Site Acquisition Process 50 Meath Ashbourne Community School Project Brief Stage 51 Meath Boyne Community School, Trim Stage 2a (Developed Sketch Scheme) 52 Meath De Lacy College, Ashbourne Stage 2b (Detailed Design) 53 Wicklow St Catherine's Special school, Newcastle Site Acquisition Process 54 Wicklow Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin, An Casadh On Site Meidhreach, Ráth Naoi 55 Wicklow Gaelscoil an tÍnbhir Mhor, Arklow Stage 1 (Preliminary Design) 56 Wicklow GS na Lochanna, Blessington Site Acquisition Process 57 Wicklow Newtownmountkennedy Primary School, Stage 2b (Detailed Kilcoole Design) 58 Wicklow Kilcoole Primary School, Kilcoole Stage 2b (Detailed Design)
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
59 Wicklow Community National School Greystones On Site 60 Wicklow Kilcoole Newtownmountkennedy School opened in Primary - Newtownmountkennedy ETNS September 2019 in interim start-up accommodation. Site Acquisition Process 61 Wicklow Bray Woodbrook Shanganagh Primary School to open in 2021. Site Acquisition Process 62 Wicklow Arklow CBS Procurement of Design Team has commenced 63 Wicklow Loreto Secondary School, Bray Procurement process for Project Manager for ADAPT Programme initiated. 64 Wicklow St. David's Holy Faith, Co-Educational Stage 3 (Tender Stage) School, Greystones 65 Wicklow North Wicklow ET Secondary School Master Plan Stage
66 Wicklow Wicklow Post Primary - Wicklow ETSS School opened in September 2019 in interim start-up accommodation. Site Acquisition Process 67 Wicklow Blessington Community College Stage 1 (Preliminary Design) 68 Wicklow Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew Project Brief Stage 69 Wicklow St Kevin's Community College, Dunlavin Procurement of Design Team has commenced 70 Wicklow Avondale Community College, Rathdrum Procurement of Design Team has commenced 71 Wicklow Coláiste Chraoibh Abhainn, Kilcoole Procurement of Design Team has commenced 72 Wicklow Gaelcholáiste na Mara, Arklow Stage 1 (Preliminary Design) 73 Wicklow Kilcooole & Greystones (regional School to open in 2020. solution) Post Primary Site Acquisition Process Source: Department of Education and Skills (31 Dec 2019)
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Health
There are 3 Primary Care Centre projects due for completion in 2020 in the Mid-East. These timelines are pre-Covid.
Table 14: HSE Capital Infrastructure 2019 in the Mid-East Project Fully Facility Project details Completion Operational Rathdrum, Primary Care Centre, by lease agreement Q4 2020 Q1 2021 Co. Wicklow Bray, Co. Primary Care Centre, by lease agreement Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Wicklow Athy / Primary Care Centre, by lease agreement Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Castledermot, Co. Kildare
Source: HSE Service Plan 2020
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Appendix Major Project Investment Tracker Details of a wider selection of projects are available on the Project Ireland 2040 map MyProjectIreland at gov.ie/2040.
Name of Brief Description of Location Construction Construction Project Project (County) Commencement Completion Date Date Maynooth A new 1,000 pupil post- Kildare 2017 2020 Post-Primary primary school and a schools 1,000 pupil replacement post-primary school with a stand-alone shared PE Hall. Maynooth The project will enable Kildare 2019 2021 University an increase of 3,370 Technology students in areas such Society and as business, law, Innovation design, biochemical Building sciences and environmental and climate sciences. The project is co-funded under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund. Electricity Proposed electricity Kildare/Meath Subject to Subject to Transmission infrastructure project to Appraisal Appraisal Network: strengthen the Capital Project electricity network 966 between the Dunstown substation in Kildare and the Woodland station in Meath. Capital Project 966 is a proposed development that will help transfer electricity to the east of the country and distribute it within the network in Meath, Kildare and Dublin. The project will help to meet growing demand for electricity in the east of the country (Meath, Kildare, Dublin) and integrate generation in the West and South West.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Arklow The Arklow Sewerage Wicklow 2020 2023 Sewerage Scheme project will Scheme include the Wastewater development of a new Treatment WWTP and associated Plant network to stop the discharge of untreated wastewater to the Avoca River. Leixlip The Leixlip Transfer Kildare Subject to 2022 Transfer Pipeline project will Appraisal Pipeline included the construction of a new rising main and gravity sewer and upgrade to the wastewater network in Leixlip to cater for additional demand. Upper Liffey The aim of this project Kildare 2020 2022 Valley is to provide an Sewerage upgrade of the existing Scheme 2B wastewater collection networks within the catchments in the Osberstown agglomeration through the development of existing pumping stations and construction of new rising mains and gravity sewers. This is required to facilitate the effective collection and transfer of the wastewater generated within the collection network to the WWTP at Osberstown. It is also to provide a scheme which is in line with modern practices and compliant with current environmental legislation and sustainability principles.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Upper Liffey Irish Water is Kildare 2019 2021 Valley progressing the Upper Sewerage Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme Phase 3 2A which includes the Contract 2A construction of a new interceptor sewer to connect Newbridge to the Osberstown Wastewater Treatment Plant. Vartry Water Irish Water is making a Wicklow 2017 2021 Supply Scheme significant investment in the Vartry Water Supply Scheme to ensure a safe and sustainable water supply for the north Wicklow and south Dublin areas. This investment will ensure that water provided complies with water quality standards set out in the European Union Drinking Water Directive and the current, national Drinking Water Regulations. The project will also ensure that this critical water supply network can operate safely through any intense rainfall events. Lower Liffey The primary objective is Kildare Subject to Subject to Valley to focus on storm water Appraisal Appraisal overflow compliance and provide for growth.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
Maynooth Provision for increase Kildare 2023 2025 Transfer in pass forward flow Pipeline transfer capacity between Maynooth and Leixlip Wastewater Treatment Plant to protect environment and facilitate growth. To eliminate existing flows from Maynooth being pumped through an overloaded network in Leixlip. Navan Mid The purpose of the Meath 2024 2026 Meath programme of works is Programme to provide the water infrastructure to deliver additional supply from Staleen Water Treatment Plant to the Navan Mid Meath Water Supply Scheme and East Meath Water Supply Scheme. Forensic This project will see the Kildare 2017 2021 Science construction of a new Laboratory Forensic Science Laboratory at Backweston, Co. Kildare. Athy Southern Construction of a Kildare 2020 2023 Distributor Distributor Road to the Road south of Athy connecting to the N78.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
M11 Capacity The corridor under Wicklow Subject to Subject to Enhancement consideration is the Appraisal Appraisal (Phase 1 & existing corridor of the Phase 2) N11/M11. The scheme extends from Junction 4 (M11) to Junction 14 (Coyne’s Cross). The scheme is 22km in length with approximately 4km in Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) and the remaining 18km within the jurisdiction of Wicklow County Council (WCC). There is a Section 85 Agreement in place between DLRCC and WCC with WCC acting as the Sponsoring Agency. M7 Naas to The scheme involves Kildare 2017 2020 Newbridge the widening of the M7 Bypass motorway from a 2-lane Widening into a 3-lane carriageway, in each direction, starting from the 3 lane N7 dual carriageway east of Junction 9 Naas North to the M7 and M9 merge at Junction 11 in Co Kildare (13.5 km). The scheme includes the removal of the existing on/off access ramps at Junction 10 Naas South and the construction of a new interchange, immediately south of the existing Junction 10.
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Project Ireland 2040 in the Mid-East - 2019 Progress Report
N2 Slane An N2 bypass of Slane Meath 2024 2026 Bypass is required to alleviate traffic congestion in the village and to reduce the potential for serious vehicular accidents due to the steep approaches to the very narrow Slane Bridge and the high commercial vehicle content in the traffic flow.
R407 Sallins R407 Sallins Bypass will Kildare 2017 2020 Bypass be located to the West of Sallins Town commencing at the proposed M7 Osberstown Interchange and tying into the existing R407 Clane Road to the North of Sallins Town. The bypass will be approximately 3.6kms in length. Two link roads - Sallins Link Road and the Distributor Link Road are included in the scheme. Arklow Flood This project is a new Wicklow 2021 2024 Relief Scheme Flood Relief Scheme for Arklow. Source: Investment Tracker - Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
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