The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche T.D., has formally issued the Call for Proposals to NSS Gateway local authorities, seeking bid proposals on a competitive basis to be funded under the Gateway Innovation Fund (GIF).
The GIF has been established under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 as a specific measure to assist in the strategic development of the nine Gateway cities and towns designated in the National Spatial Strategy. Achieving more balanced regional development is a key objective under the Plan and it clearly sets out that continued and accelerated implementation of the NSS is the Government's main policy instrument for achieving this.
The GIF is additional to the significant NDP sectoral investment programmes already committed for the NSS Gateways and is intended to incentivise, stimulate and reward joined-up strategies and action in the Gateways by helping to fund targeted strategic capital projects that can trigger the accelerated development of the Gateways and their wider regions.
It has an allocation of €300 million for the three years - 2008 to 2010 - and will require at least 20% co-financing at local level, as a practical demonstration of the commitment by Gateway authorities and the private sector to Gateway development and co-ordination.
Announcing the call for proposals, Minister Roche said - "the Gateways Innovation Fund is further evidence of the Government's commitment to the NSS and should provide tangible support to the development of the nine Gateway cities and towns designated under the NSS.
"We now have the opportunity to stimulate more balanced regional development by adding impetus to the creation of dynamic cities and towns that provide a competitive and vibrant environment for enterprise and a high quality of life that attracts people to live there.
"Strong Gateways are also drivers of growth in their wider regions and the impact of this Fund will be felt - not only in the Gateway cities themselves, but in the surrounding towns, villages and rural areas."
A GIF Management Committee - comprising representatives from the Departments of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Finance (with input from other Government Departments and agencies as required) - will make funding recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Finance. They will, jointly, bring the funding recommendations to Government.
"The GIF opens up new opportunities" - added the Minister - "opportunities to make a real difference in the regions. I want to see innovative projects, innovative thinking and innovative solutions. This will require local joined-up thinking and close co-operation between all the players in both the public and private sectors and strong leadership and drive from the lead authorities. We now have a chance to show what can be achieved and we must rise to the challenge and produce quality, added-value and deliverable projects."
The closing date for submission of bid proposals from each Gateway is 15 November 2007 - with the intention of allocating funding to successful proposals in early 2008.
The nine NSS Gateway cities and towns are -
* Athlone/Mullingar/Tullamore (a linked Midlands Gateway)
* Cork
* Dublin
* Dundalk
* Galway
* Letterkenny-Derry
* Limerick
* Sligo - and
* Waterford
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