Delay in regeneration of Carlow town centre due to increased costs - Clonmore

At a recent Carlow Municipal District meeting, director of services for the county council, Padraig O’Gorman, expressed frustration over delays in the regeneration of Carlow town centre. The delays were primarily due to increased construction costs over the last two years, which necessitated a revised quantity surveyor's report and revised business case.

Cllr John Cassin commented that he was experiencing "URDF fatigue," indicating his frustration with the ongoing delays. Cllr Ken Murnane expressed similar sentiment, noting that the original timeline had been repeatedly pushed back since 2024, when shovels were expected to be in the ground by 2025. O’Gorman informed the councillors that the reports would be submitted to the housing department next week, and if approved, the project could go to tender in three months, with construction beginning in the first quarter of the following year.

Cllr Andrea Dalton criticized the process, stating that now was the cheapest time to undertake such a project, yet it seemed like a "crazy way of doing business" with costs increasing by 50%. Cllr Adrienne Wallace agreed, pointing out the inherent dysfunctionality within the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) projects.

The council is also considering the Barrack Street link, which is currently an "interim measure" intended to increase footfall into Carlow Shopping Centre. Cllr Fintan Phelan attempted to maintain a more positive tone, praising the council's efforts thus far and expressing optimism about the eventual outcome. However, overall frustration was evident among several councillors regarding the lengthy and complex bureaucratic processes involved in the project.