€40m Secured For Designated Gateway And Hub Towns

Funding of €40 million has been secured for local authorities for designated gateway and hub towns across Ireland.

The money is being supplied by the European Regional Development Fund and will enable investments in sustainable transport and urban regeneration measures in Irish urban centres.

The aim of the ERDF Scheme is to improve the urban environment and revitalise Irish urban areas. It makes capital funding available to tackle social, economic, environmental, climate and demographic challenges and to contribute to an improvement in the development potential of Irish urban centres.

It is understood that a number of projects across Ireland have already been identified as recipients of funding under the scheme.

Welcoming the new, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, said: "I'm particularly pleased to see the number of sustainable transport measures being funded under this call. We've seen a significant growth in the numbers cycling over the past few years due to the continued investment in cycling infrastructure by my Department, the National Transport Authority and local authorities. The measures announced today will see that growth continue. This also ties in with our recently launched National Physical Activity Plan and shows this Government's commitment to sustainable transport modes. I'm pleased to see, for example, that Limerick is continuing to seek to improve its sustainable transport provision under this scheme, following on from €9 million granted to them under my Department's Smarter Travel Area funding stream. The commitment to funding urban regeneration also ties in neatly with my responsibilities for tourism as these funds will make these towns and cities more attractive not only to live and work in but to visit."

(MH/LM)