Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
605. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has received an application under the rural regeneration fund for a grant for a transport plan for a town (details supplied); if as part of the consideration of this application the retailers and residents of the town will be consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53397/18]
View answerThe first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September. €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities.
There was an excellent response to the first call, with nearly 300 applications received.
The applications are currently being examined by the Project Advisory Board, made up of representatives from key Government Departments and external experts, which was established to oversee the assessment process. Category 1 "shovel ready" projects were prioritised in the assessment process in the first instance and Category 2 projects - those which need development funding to become potential Category 1 applications in future calls for applications - are now being considered.
I can confirm that my Department received a Category 2 application from Cork County Council in relation to a project in Castletownbere and this project will be considered as part of the aforementioned process. Any questions relating to details of the proposed project should be raised directly with Cork County Council.
I announced the first set of successful Category 1 projects for funding on the 23rd November 2018 and further announcements of successful Category 1 and Category 2 projects will take place early in 2019. A further call under the Fund will take place later in 2019.
