Scheme aimed at tackling dereliction to be expanded to Dundalk by June

Louth Fine Gael TD, Paula Butterly, has welcomed the announcement by Tánaiste Simon Harris, that a Government Scheme aimed at tackling dereliction will be expanded Dundalk and Drogheda by June.

The Living City Initiative aims to breathe new life into the centre of urban areas, and is currently in place in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance announced on Tuesday that Dundalk and Drogheda will be part of the expansion in the coming months.

The scheme, which provides targeted tax incentives to encourage investment and bring vacant or underused buildings back into use, has been extended until 2030.

It has also been expanded to cover properties built before 1975 and it will now also support the conversion of "over-the-shop" premises for residential use, helping to revitalise older urban areas.

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The expansion of the scheme is being introduced as part of the Finance Bill, which the Tánaiste is currently bringing through the Oireachtas. The Tánaiste told the Dáil on Tuesday evening: “The first step is to engage with the local authorities and I will write to them all this week or early next week.

“We will set a deadline of the end of January to revert to us with their proposals – a map - of where in the town should be covered.

“We will then engage directly with them and have that process concluded by end of Quarter 1 and open to applications as soon as possible after. The Living City Initiative is a real opportunity to try and encourage people to come back into the towns and live in our towns.

Welcoming the news, Deputy Butterly said: “Tackling dereliction and breathing new life into our cities and towns is a vital approach in terms of us unlocking homes and increasing housing supply.

“I therefore want to strongly welcome this announcement by the Tánaiste, which will benefit our communities in both Drogheda and Dundalk.

“I will keep residents and businesses owners fully up to date with progress in rolling out this scheme in our county, which I believe will make a hugely positive difference to people’s lives.”