Drogheda has received a major boost in Budget 2026, with confirmation that it will be designated a Regional Centre under the National Planning Framework and included in the expanded Living City Initiative — a move local representatives say will transform the town centre and bring it another step closer to official city status.
The announcement means Drogheda will now benefit from targeted regeneration supports and tax incentives designed to revitalise older homes and commercial buildings in its historic core.
Senator Alison Comyn, who campaigned for Drogheda’s inclusion, said the decision represents “a vote of confidence in Drogheda’s future.”
“I’m absolutely delighted to see Drogheda recognised at this level,” Senator Comyn said. “Being included in the Living City Initiative is not just a policy change — it’s an opportunity to breathe new life into our town centre. It will encourage investment, help restore heritage buildings, and strengthen our case for achieving official city status — which Drogheda both needs and truly deserves.”
Under the revised scheme announced by the Minister for Finance, the Living City Initiative will now apply to properties built before 1975, extending eligibility beyond the previous 1915 cut-off. It will also specifically support the conversion of ‘over the shop’ premises into residential accommodation — a key measure to address town centre vacancy and the national housing shortage.
The initiative also includes enhanced tax relief for businesses, increasing the enterprise threshold from €200,000 to €300,000, with more flexibility for claiming relief.
“This scheme will open real doors for Drogheda’s businesses, residents, and local developers,” Senator Comyn added. “It allows people to restore and reuse vacant buildings while preserving the unique character and charm of Drogheda’s heritage streetscape.”
Local representatives hail ‘transformative opportunity’
Fellow Louth representative Deputy Erin McGreehan also welcomed the announcement, describing it as “a major opportunity for Dundalk and Drogheda.”
“The Living City Initiative will help breathe new life into our town centres by supporting the refurbishment of older homes and commercial buildings, including ‘over the shop’ spaces that can be converted into much-needed housing,” Deputy McGreehan said. “It’s a major boost for heritage, housing, and local enterprise.”
Deputy McGreehan confirmed that Louth County Council will now prepare Special Regeneration Areas for both towns.
“I’ll be working closely with Louth County Council to ensure this opportunity delivers real benefits for our communities,” she said. “This initiative can help tackle vacancy, support small businesses, and improve housing supply while protecting the heritage that makes our towns unique.”
“Years of campaigning have borne fruit” – Deputy Ged Nash
Louth Labour TD Ged Nash also welcomed Drogheda and Dundalk’s inclusion, calling it “the result of a decade-long campaign.”
“Years of campaigning have borne fruit in today’s Budget as the government finally listened to my repeated calls to have Drogheda and Dundalk added to the Living Cities Initiative,” Deputy Nash said. “This measure will be a new weapon at our disposal in the war against vacancy and dereliction in our two largest towns.”
The Labour TD, who has long pushed for tax reliefs to restore older properties, said he has “consistently raised the issue year after year, putting down amendments to the Finance Bill to make this tax break available to people who want to renovate pre-1913 buildings in urban areas and bring them back to life.”
Deputy Nash also welcomed the Government’s decision to transfer responsibility for collecting the Derelict Sites Levy from local authorities to the Revenue Commissioners — a move Labour has advocated for years.
“Big developers and speculators have ignored local councils for too long — but they won’t be able to ignore Revenue,” he said. “This change is a long overdue recognition that tackling vacancy and dereliction requires serious enforcement.”
“For too long, the problem of vacancy and dereliction has been treated as an afterthought. Across every town and city in Ireland, families walk past boarded-up homes and crumbling buildings that could be providing secure housing. By empowering Revenue to collect the levy, Government is finally acknowledging that the system must have teeth.”
“With both of these tools finally in our armoury,” he concluded, “I look forward to real impact on the ground in Drogheda and Dundalk, breathing new life into our two largest towns.”
Drogheda’s inclusion brings it in line with major urban centres such as Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, and Waterford, and new regional hubs including Athlone, Sligo, Letterkenny, and Dundalk.
The Living City Initiative will now run until the end of 2030, giving Drogheda a key window of opportunity to deliver meaningful change — from revitalised streets to renewed civic pride.
“Fianna Fáil has consistently championed balanced regional development,” Senator Comyn concluded. “Today’s announcement proves that Drogheda’s voice is being heard. We’re a town with the population, ambition, and history to be a city — and this is one more step in the right direction.”
