Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2019
209. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when an application for aid pursuant to the urban and rural development fund from Westmeath County Council in respect of a project at Kinnegad, County Westmeath, will be finalised; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7384/19]
View answer210. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when an application for aid pursuant to the urban and rural development fund from Westmeath County Council in respect of a project at Castlepollard, County Westmeath, will be finalised; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7385/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed €1 billion to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities. The Fund has been allocated €315m over the period 2019 to 2022 and the various allocations over that period will be confirmed as part of the annual budgetary process.
The first call for applications for the Fund closed at the end of September and there was an excellent response from all across the country, with 280 applications received.
The assessment of applications for the Fund has now been completed with the aid of the Project Advisory Board, made up of representatives from key Government Departments and external experts, established to oversee the process. A report is now being prepared detailing recommendations for funding in relation to remaining Category 1, "shovel ready" projects, and Category 2 projects - those which need development funding to become potential Category 1 applications in future calls for applications.
Following consideration of the recommendations, I will make an announcement this week detailing the final round of successful projects from the first call under the Fund. Feedback will be given to those applicants who were unsuccessful in this round and a second call for applications under the Fund will take place later this year.
The Urban fund falls within the remit of my colleague Minister Murphy.
