A total of €40 million in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant assistance is to be made available to local councils in Ireland for designated gateway and hub towns.

It is understood the scheme will allow for investments in sustainable transport and urban regeneration measures in urban centres to around

It is understood the scheme will enable €127m investment in sustainable transport and urban regeneration measures between the period 2014 – 2020 under the Designated Urban Centres Grants Scheme. ERDF will provide €40m to the projects, which are co-funded by the local authorities.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, made the announcement in conjunction with the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

The projects that have been awarded funding are located in Athlone, Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Ennis, Galway, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Limerick, Mallow, Mullingar, Sligo, Tralee, Tullamore, Waterford and Wexford.

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

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, 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.

"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."

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly TD, added: "This investment in sustainable urban development recognises our cities and towns as the engines of the regional economy. This scheme will provide grant assistance to designated local authorities for urban capital projects.

"I am delighted that sustainable urban development is being prioritised for funding, and that the investment being leveraged by these projects has the support of €40 million ERDF grants as announced today."

(JP/LM)