Louth County Council welcomes the formal designation of Dundalk and Drogheda as Special Regeneration Areas under the Living City Initiative, as announced today (Friday, 17 April 2026) by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD.
The designation means that property owners in defined areas of Dundalk and Drogheda are now eligible to apply for tax reliefs to refurbish or convert residential and commercial buildings, including the conversion of vacant upper floors and “over‑the‑shop” premises into homes.
The Living City Initiative is a long-standing regeneration measure already in operation in cities including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway. It is designed to breathe new life into town and city centres by tackling vacancy and underuse.
The Special Regeneration Areas (SRAs) identified by Louth County Council in Dundalk and Drogheda reflect locations where there are high levels of long‑term vacancy, ageing building stock and significant regeneration potential. Property owners within these SRAs will be eligible to apply for tax relief, subject to meeting the relevant criteria.
By targeting incentives in these areas, the initiative supports compact growth, town‑centre living and the sustainable reuse of existing buildings, in line with national planning and housing objectives.
Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said: “The designation of Dundalk and Drogheda under the Living City Initiative is a very significant moment for our county and for our town centres.
“This scheme recognises that the future of vibrant, sustainable communities lies in reusing the historic buildings, main streets and urban cores in both towns, and it will help restore activity, pride and confidence in areas that have enormous potential.
“Louth County Council looks forward to working with residents, property owners and businesses to ensure that this opportunity delivers lasting social, economic and cultural benefits for both Dundalk and Drogheda.”
Cllr Robert Nash, Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, said: “Dundalk has a strong historic core and main street network, and despite the great work that has been carried out over the last decade, there are still issues related to long‑term vacancy and under‑use. This initiative gives us a real opportunity to bring investment back into existing buildings and encourage people to live and work in the heart of the town.
“The Living City Initiative aligns closely with our ambitions for compact growth and sustainable town‑centre living, and Louth County Council will work closely with property owners, businesses and the local community to ensure Dundalk fully benefits from this designation.”
Cllr Michelle Hall, the Mayor of Drogheda, said: “The inclusion of Drogheda in the Living City Initiative is a hugely positive step for our town. Drogheda has a rich built heritage and enormous potential in its town centre, and this initiative will help unlock that by supporting the reuse of vacant and under‑utilised buildings for homes, businesses and community activity.
“Creating a vibrant place where people want to put down roots is central to revitalising our town centre, and the Living City Initiative will play an important role in supporting that vision for Drogheda.”
David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said: “The Living City Initiative presents a significant opportunity for owners to bring properties back into productive use while contributing to the wider regeneration of both Dundalk and Drogheda town centres.
“We would appeal to private owners of vacant and under‑utilised properties within the designated Special Regeneration Areas to actively engage with the programme and consider availing of the supports now available.”
Louth County Council will work closely with the Department of Finance, Revenue Commissioners, local businesses and communities to support the successful implementation of the initiative in Dundalk and Drogheda.
The maps of the SRAs in Dundalk and Drogheda are available here.
