Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 October 2019
38. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of applications from County Kildare for funding under the rural regeneration development fund, including for the Barrow blueway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43825/19]
View answerUnder 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.
The second call for Category 1 applications for the Fund closed at on 6 August and there was an excellent response from all across the country. My Department received 69 applications for funding under the call, one of which related to the Barrow Blueway project.
My Department is currently finalising the assessment process in relation to the applications, carried out in conjunction with the Project Advisory Board for the Fund, which is comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts.
My Department will prepare a report detailing the outcome of that process and my role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding. In that regard, I expect to be in a position to announce the successful Category 1 projects from the second call shortly.
