Ratoath now eligible for funding to tackle long term vacancy and dereliction
Ratoath is now eligible to benefit from a round of Government funding aimed at tackling vacancy and dereliction in town centres.
The south Meath town was named today as one of 11 additional towns now qualified to receive funding under Call 3 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).
Under this round of URDF funding, local authorities are provided with finance to activate long term vacant and derelict properties in town centres for reuse or sale. This helps to address long-term vacancy, brings vibrancy into town centres and accelerates the delivery of housing.
Ratoath joins Trim, Navan, Ashbourne and Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington on the list of towns in Meath eligible to avail of this source of funding. To date, towns in Meath have been allocated almost €26 million in three rounds of URDF funding.
Today’s announcement was made as part of the Government’s latest Housing for All Quarterly Progress Report and publication of the Vacant Homes Action Plan Progress Report by the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government.
Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien TD said: “Regenerating and rejuvenating our town centres means that our urban areas become more attractive and vibrant places for people to live and work.
"Already, through the availability of a dedicated €150 million revolving fund under the URDF, local authorities have identified over 900 properties in URDF towns throughout the country that can be brought back into practical use. I am delighted today to announce that Ratoath is now eligible under the scheme and have a great opportunity to help reinvigorate their town centres while at the same time increasing the delivery of housing.”
The URDF is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040 and was established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and large towns. This initiative is also in support of objectives under the Town Centre First policy.