No ‘Living Cities’ move for Drogheda

THE Minister for Finance has confirmed to Senator Ged Nash that the government will not extend the ‘Living Cities’ initiative to Drogheda.

In a letter to the local Senator, the Fine Gael Minister has said that “an extension of eligibility to other towns and cities would be largely meaningless.”

The scheme provides incentives for owners of older buildings in city and town centres to renovate and refurbish properties to promote town and city centre living and urban regeneration.

“Coming hot on the heels of the government’s refusal to extend the Drogheda Boundary, this is more bad news from an administration with little interest in Ireland’s largest town.

“The exclusion of Drogheda makes no sense whatsoever, considering that Kilkenny was included in the most recent extension of the scheme.

“Drogheda is suffering because it has no influence at the top level of government. This decision, confirmed to me by Michael Noonan is deeply concerning and I will keep campaigning to have Drogheda covered by the scheme which can help transform the historic centre of the town.”