Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2019
18. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of capital developments in the County Donegal Gaeltacht that come under the remit of his Department; if funding will be provided to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3035/19]
View answer28. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of capital developments in County Donegal that come under the remit of his Department; and if funding will be provided to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3036/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 28 together.
My Department has provided funding through a number of programmes to County Donegal and to the Donegal Gaeltacht.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government committed €1 billion to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and to help build strong communities. The Fund has been allocated €315m over the period 2019 to 2022, with €55m set aside in my Department's budget for successful projects in 2019.
I announced the first 18 successful projects under the Fund on the 23rd November which will receive €24.4 million.
The projects from the Fund, while unlocking a further €11 million in other funding, are ready to commence in 2019.
Donegal got an RRDF allocation of €1.5m for a successful proposal by Údarás na Gaeltachta for the expansion of Gaoth Dobhair Business Park which will deliver an additional 1,725 sq.m. of modern office space for formative businesses.
I also announced over €1.7m RRDF funding for the restoration, by Donegal County Council, of Swan Park in Buncrana, which was badly damaged by extreme weather in 2017.
My Department’s Library Capital Programme will invest some €29m in 19 projects, as well as the My Open Library service. I announced a €1m contribution in May 2018 for the new library for Donegal Town. I understand Donegal County Council expects to complete construction of the library by end-2020.
My Department recently awarded a grant of €35,000 to erect a mobile phone mast in Malin Beg, Co. Donegal under the Digital Innovation Programme. The funds for this project have been drawn down in full and it is my understanding that work will be completed before the end of quarter 2 of this year.
In 2018 I provided over €630,000 to County Donegal under the Community Enhancement Programme and 146 community groups have been approved under the programme.
The Local Action Group responsible for the delivery of the LEADER Programme in County Donegal is allocated a budget of approximately €9.6 million. Over €4.3 million is approved to 104 project promoters. Of this, €474,949 has been allocated to 22 projects in the Gaeltacht areas of the county. This funding will be drawn down as work is completed.
Other programmes operated by my Department which support Donegal are the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme; Town and Village Renewal Scheme; CLAR; The Walks Scheme and the Local Improvement Scheme.
I refer the Deputy to my Department's website for a full list of projects which give a comprehensive picture of what we are achieving for County Donegal. I look forward to making further announcements in 2019 that will build on our existing schemes to achieve better outcomes for all of those who live in rural areas.
