Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
13. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to detail the funding that remains to be allocated in 2024 under the various schemes managed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20906/24]
View answer19. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the successful RRDF grants in County Galway will be announced. [20896/24]
View answer20. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when an announcement will be made in relation to the approval of the current round of applications under the RRDF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20815/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 19 and 20 together.
The 2024 Revised Estimate provides my Department with total funding of €431 million for 2024, of which €221 million is current funding and €210 million is capital funding.
Given the nature of the funding programmes and schemes operated by my Department most funding approvals are made on a multiannual basis.
With regard to current funding programmes, such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, and the Community Services Programme, this multiannual funding approach ensures that the organisations and communities that benefit from the schemes have a stable funding environment, with funding certain over a number of years.
With regard to the capital funding schemes, including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, LEADER and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the multiannual funding approach ensures a strong pipeline of projects, and that our delivery partners can progress projects over more than one calendar year.
Given this multiannual funding approach, the funding made available to my Department in 2024 will be mainly be used to fund programmes and schemes for which funding approvals were made in previous years. Similarly, most projects being approved this year will complete and draw down funds in future years.
With regard to funding announcements made this year, significant approvals to date include over €20 million under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, €30 million under the Community Centre Investment Fund, and €25 million for the new Libraries Capital Programme, all announced in April 2024.
Also in April, a record €40 million in funding for the Local Improvement Scheme was announced in respect of the 2024-2025 period.
In relation to the remainder of this year, there are a number of important announcements in relation to the allocation of funding which I expect to make in the coming months.
For example, the assessment of applications of Measures 2 and 3 of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure scheme is nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks. This will build on the €4.1 million already announced under Measure 1 of the Scheme earlier this year.
The Deputies will also be aware that the second round of the Community Recognition Fund is currently open for applications. Local authorities have the opportunity to submit projects to my Department for approval in 3 tranches, 2 of which have deadlines this year. As these applications are received I will seek to allocate funding in a timely manner to ensure that projects can begin work at local level.
Similarly, the 2024 CLÁR Scheme is currently open for applications, and I would expect to be in a position to announce further funding allocations under that Scheme before the end of the year.
And finally, I will shortly be announcing funding for successful projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, which represents the largest single area of investment within my Department.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides vital funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications
In 2022 I announced funding of €115 million for 23 large scale projects under the fourth call. The fifth call for Category 1 RRDF applications closed on 8 February, and my Department received 60 applications under this call.
The application process for Category 1 proposals is highly competitive in nature, with all applications subject to rigorous assessment by my Department. A Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts, is also in place to assist with the selection process.
Once the assessment process is complete, my officials will prepare a report setting out recommended projects. My role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding. The assessment process is now nearing completion, and I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects shortly.
Later in the year I also plan to open further iterations of funding calls for a range of schemes including the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and Category 2 projects under RRDF. Information on funding calls and the allocation of funding to successful projects will be made available on my Department's website.
I am confident that the unprecedented level of investment across the range of schemes implemented by my Department will continue to deliver real and lasting benefits in communities across the country.
