Finance Minister Jack Chambers. Photo: PA
A new €250 million fund to convert wasteland and unused green space into playing pitches and urban parks has been pledged by Fianna Fáil should they re-enter government after the upcoming general election.
The fund will be contained in the party’s new Dublin policy being launched today.
Fianna Fáil said it is committed to the establishment of the new fund to support the local authorities in acquiring and developing new lands for general recreation and sports pitches in cities and towns around the country.
Its aim is to help address the deficit of amenities in cities and towns around Ireland.
The party said it will set up an urban regeneration development fund style fund for local authorities to apply for to finance projects in their area.
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The Irish Independent understands that part of the plan includes an audit of four Dublin local authority areas to identify the most in-need communities.
For example, Dublin 8 has been recognised as an area lacking in playing pitches.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Minister for Finance Jack Chambers said: “We have an ambitious plan to shape Dublin as a European capital that is economically sustainable, socially inclusive, culturally rich and environmentally resilient.”
“We are committed to increasing the supply of homes.
“We will make Dublin safer by boosting Garda presence, reforming the policing model, creating a dedicated transport police unit, and investing in local communities,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael is set to launch its blueprint for rural Ireland today.
It will include a €2 billion rural regeneration fund to support towns and villages and a new town centre living grant of €100,000 to convert over the shop spaces.
Rural delivery units would be established in each local authority under the scheme and more gardaí will be on the beat in rural communities.
Fine Gael also said it will establish a new targeted North-West development fund and deliver key regional roads projects.
Every home, business or farm is to be provided with high-speed broadband by 2026, as well as there will be an increased investment in rural water services.
