€5 million announced for St Nicholas Quarter in Dundalk

€5 million has been allocated to Louth County Council by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the third phase of the St Nicholas Quarter Regeneration project in Dundalk, under a €409 million in Towns and Cities ‘Regeneration Investment Fund’ announced on Monday by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD.

Three projects in Louth are among 120 projects across the State that are to receive the funding, if the local authorities can meet the targets set out in their applications for support.

Along with the €5 million earmarked for the St Nicholas Quarter, €150,000 has been allocated to Dundalk for a Park Street/Francis Street Regeneration Feasability Study, and €7 million for Westgate 2040 in Drogheda.

Projects prioritised for the funding nationally, 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.

Announcing the funding, Minister Browne 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.”

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