2019 Update Project Ireland 2040 in the North-East – 2019 Progress Report The North-East Key Facts and Projects NSO 1 - Compact Growth 518 new social housing builds in the North-East in 2019 1,091 total new dwelling completions in the North-East in 2019 4 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 Ardee Bypass – at final business case stage NSO 3 - Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities 2 projects were approved for funding from the second call of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund NSO 4 - Sustainable Mobility The Dart Expansion Programme to Drogheda – in planning stage NSO 5 - A Strong Economy, supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills 5,899 in IDA supported employment, 18,045 in EI supported employment Dundalk Advanced Office Building delivered by the IDA in 2019 3 successful applicants for the latest round of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund 1 successful project partner applicant under Call 2 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund NSO 6 - High Quality International Connectivity The North-East will benefit from its close access to Dublin Airport and the ongoing construction of the North runway NSO 7 - Enhanced Amenity and Heritage Improve the condition and visitor experience at National Monument sites, such as Brú na Bóinne – new visitor centre opened in 2019 63 successful applicants from the North-East in the last round of the Sports Capital Programme The average sports capital grant for the region was €37,481 NSO 8 - Climate-Resilient Society 8 flood relief schemes are targeted for the North East, including Dundalk, Carlingford and Greenore and Drogheda NSO 9 - Sustainable Management of Water and other Environmental Resources There are currently 13 water and wastewater projects in progress in the North-East e.g. the Drogheda Water Main Replacement Project NSO 10 - Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services 3 schools projects were delivered in the North-East in 2019 A further 14 schools projects are at various stages of planning, design and construction Recent completion of 5 new theatre suites in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co. Louth 1 | P a g e Project Ireland 2040 in the North-East – 2019 Progress Report 1. Project Ireland 2040 This document sets out the projects and programmes which are being planned and delivered in the North-East as part of the public investment detailed in Project Ireland 2040 - the Government’s National Planning Framework (NPF) and National Development Plan (NDP). 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 North-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 North-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 | P a g e Project Ireland 2040 in the North-East – 2019 Progress Report 2. Progress against National Strategic Outcomes 2.1 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. Urban regeneration is reviving Cavan Town Centre, the Long Walk Quarter in Dundalk, the Westgate area of Drogheda, Dublin Street in Monaghan Town, Ballybay, Ballyjamesduff, Clones, Ardee and Carrickmacross Town Centres. There were 518 social housing new builds in the North-East in 2019 with more planned in 2020. In line with the national increase in new houses being built, there was a total of 1,091 new dwelling completions in the North-East in 2019. Table 1: Social Housing Completion in 2019 North-East Total New Build Cavan County Council 48 Louth County Council 349 Monaghan County Council 121 Total 518 Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Table 2: Total Housing Completion in 2019 North-East New Dwelling Completions Cavan (County Council) 140 Louth (County Council) 672 Monaghan (County Council) 279 Total 1,091 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 North-East - Totals 1,430 1,013 417 900 3,760 Cavan 305 202 103 6 616 Louth 770 621 149 878 2,418 Monaghan 355 190 165 16 726 Source: Central Statistics Office 3 | P a g e Project Ireland 2040 in the North-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 North-East, these include: Drogheda, Dundalk, Cavan and Monaghan. The URDF is a key part of Project Ireland 2040 with 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 achieve the ‘compact growth’ that was set out in Project Ireland 2040. In total, there were 4 successful applicants from the North-East for the first round of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in 2018. The closure of second call applications was extended to 29 May 2020, given the Covid-19 crisis. Table 4a: Successful Applicants for the latest round of the Urban RDF North-East Category A (Ready Category B Total per County to Go) (to be developed) Cavan County Council 0 1 1 Louth County Council 0 2 2 Monaghan County Council 0 1 1 Total 0 4 4 Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Table 4b: Successful Applicants for the latest round of the Urban RDF Applicant County Description Cavan County Cavan Technical assistance to develop a structured scheme of Council works to develop backlands in the town core and rejuvenate the town centre. Louth County Louth Rejuvenation scheme (to reinvigorate the Long Walk Council Quarter to establish new living and working quarter at the heart of Dundalk town centre. Funding will support street improvement and upgrade, creation of improved public spaces and promotion of café culture, incorporating public art. Louth County Louth Funding for technical assistance, including: project Council management, concept development, feasibility and detailed design and planning associated with “Westgate Vision”. Narrow West Street in Drogheda and its environs, known as Westgate, is characterised by vacancy, dereliction and underuse of buildings and this project relates to an urban design vision for the area. Monaghan Monaghan Technical assistance for design and planning of scheme County Council of works to open up brownfield backlands and landlocked greenfield sites in Monaghan town. Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government 4 | P a g e Project Ireland 2040 in the North-East – 2019 Progress Report 2.2 National Strategic Outcome 2 – Enhanced Regional Connectivity A core priority under Project Ireland 2040 is the essential requirement to enhance and upgrade accessibility between urban centres of population and their regions, in parallel with the initiation of compact growth of urban centres. Growth enablers for the Dublin Belfast Corridor include improved accessibility and service by rail, road and communication between Dublin and Belfast. One of the road projects currently in Project Ireland 2040 is the Ardee Bypass which will serve to reduce congestion and delays within the town. The project is due to be completed in 2021. The proposed scheme will be a Type 2 Single Carriageway and comprise six road junctions, including a proposed roundabout on the N2, and two river bridge structures. Improvements to thoroughfares, including access roads and services into Cootehill Industrial estate. 5 | P a g e Project Ireland 2040 in the North-East – 2019 Progress Report 2.3 National Strategic Outcome 3 – Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities The full participation of rural communities in 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. Project Ireland 2040 is supporting sustainable rural jobs through the restoration of Ardee Castle, further positioning Louth as a tourist destination; delivering a new community-run Enterprise Centre with high quality office space in Castleblayney, and a new technology Park in Cootehill. As part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed to providing an additional €1 billion for a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) over the period 2019 to 2027. The Fund will provide investment to support rural renewal, strengthen and build resilience in rural communities and assist in the regeneration of 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. 2 projects were approved under the second call. Table 5: Projects in the North-East approved for funding under the second call of the Rural RDF Applicant Project County Description Total RRDF Funding € Cavan Virginia Civic Cavan This is an ambitious and transformative €3,963,525 County Centre town regeneration project in the centre Council of Virginia, Co.