Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2019
518. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects approved under the first and second calls for the rural regeneration and development fund by county in tabular form; the number of projects not approved by county in each year; the main reasons for refusal; and if there is a mechanism in place to appeal refusal decisions. [46526/19]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund seeks to support ambitious and strategic projects which have the potential to transform rural economies and communities. The Government has committed €1 billion over 10 years to the Fund and €315 million is allocated to the Fund for the period 2019-2022.
The first call for applications for funding under the Fund was completed in February 2019. 280 applications were received for Category 1 (relating to capital projects which are fully planning and consent compliant and are ready to commence) and Category 2 (projects which require development support to become ready for Category 1 status) under the first call and 84 projects emerged as successful. The successful projects under the first call were allocated €86m in support from the Fund and will deliver a total investment of €117m.
Table 1 sets out the total number of applications under the first call, as well as the number of successful and unsuccessful applications.
The second call for Category 1 applications for the Fund closed on the 6th August. There was an excellent response from all across the country, with my Department receiving 69 applications for funding.
On November 6th in New Ross. Co. Wexford, I announced the final outcome of the second call, identifying details of 26 successful projects. The successful projects have been allocated €62m in support from the Fund and will deliver a total investment of €95m.
Table 2 sets out the total number of applications received under the second call, as well as the number of successful and unsuccessful applications.
The application process for the Fund is competitive in nature and applications undergo comprehensive scrutiny involving assessment by my Department overseen by a Project Advisory Board, which includes representatives from key Government Departments as well as independent experts. On foot of this process, a report on recommended projects is submitted to me to inform my decision in relation to the allocation of funding to successful projects.
Projects which emerge unsuccessful from this process do so because other projects are recommended for funding ahead of them, based on the assessment process detailed above and subject to budgetary constraints. My Department supplies feedback on applications as required and will shortly be scheduling a formal feedback session for all interested stakeholders. There is no appeal procedure in relation to applications which, as detailed above, are selected on foot of an independent, comprehensive and robust assessment process. Unsuccessful applicants may apply for future calls.
Table 1. Number of Applications under the First Call per County, along with number of successful and unsuccessful applications.
Table 2. Number of Applications under the Second Call per County, along with number of successful and unsuccessful applications
|
County |
Number of Successful Applications |
Number of Unsuccessful Projects |
Number of Applications |
|
Carlow |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Clare |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Cork |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Galway |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Laois |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Limerick |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
Longford |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Meath |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Sligo |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Kildare, Laois |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
26 |
43 |
69 |
