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Rural Development Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Questions (904)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

904. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he has received applications under the various rural development schemes in the past two years by county; the extent of the approvals in the past; his expectations for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8117/20]

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Written answers

My Department implements a suite of measures aimed at providing direct financial support for the development and enhancement of rural areas as part of my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme.

Details of the number of applications received in 2018 and 2019 under the CLÁR Programme, the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are provided in the tables below. The variation in number of applications received in any given year can reflect the scheme criteria for the year and the timing of calls for proposals.

Applications in respect of the schemes listed below are received directly by my Department. Details in respect of the LEADER Programme are not included as these are received and processed by the Local Action Groups that administer LEADER throughout the country.

Details of the grants approved under each scheme are available by following the relevant links on my Department's website at: https://www.gov.ie/en/policy/ac9ee6-action-plan-for-rural-development. It should be noted that the number of approvals differs from the number of applications received, as these schemes are operated on a competitive basis and are generally oversubscribed.

In relation to the position for 2020, the CLÁR Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme are being launched this week as a €30 million package of co-ordinated and complementary supports aimed at aiding the economic and social recovery of rural Ireland in response to COVID-19. Details in respect of all of these schemes and the projects eligible to receive funding will be available on the gov.ie website by the end of this week.

Under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the second call for Category 2 projects, relating to project development and enabling initiatives, closed on the 28th February 2020. There was an excellent response from across the country and 76 applications were received.

My Department is currently engaged in 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. On completion of this process, my Department will prepare a report setting out the projects which are recommended for approval. My role will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding.

CLÁR Applications 2018 & 2019

County/Organisation

2018

Applications Received

2019

Applications Received

Carlow

13

11

Cavan

18

26

Clare

22

19

Cork

29

27

Donegal

26

30

Dublin

0

0

Galway

26

26

Kerry

37

34

Kilkenny

12

13

Laois

16

17

Leitrim

22

30

Limerick

21

17

Longford

19

23

Louth

17

9

Mayo

37

37

Meath

11

7

Monaghan

19

19

Offaly

17

9

Roscommon

19

27

Sligo

20

17

Tipperary

24

20

Waterford

16

18

Westmeath

21

22

Wexford

0

0

Wicklow

16

12

National Organisations

49

24

Total

527

494

Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme Applications 2018 & 2019

County/Organisation

Applications Received 2018

Applications Received 2019

Carlow

9

5

Cavan

13

10

Clare

15

8

Cork

40

14

Donegal

14

14

Dublin

4

0

Galway

22

12

Kerry

26

14

Kildare

2

1

Kilkenny

11

13

Laois

10

9

Leitrim

14

13

Limerick

20

14

Longford

15

12

Louth

8

8

Mayo

16

16

Meath

12

7

Monaghan

17

12

Offaly

12

13

Roscommon

12

8

Sligo

15

14

Tipperary

19

12

Waterford

11

13

Westmeath

15

14

Wexford

18

13

Wicklow

15

15

Inland Fisheries

0

1

NPWS

0

1

Coillte

0

0

Udaras

0

0

Heritage Council

0

0

Total

385

285

Town and Village Renewal Scheme Applications 2018 & 2019

County

Applications Received 2018

Applications Received 2019

Carlow

12

12

Cavan

12

12

Clare

6

12

Cork

12

14

Donegal

12

12

Dublin

11

12

Galway

12

12

Kerry

12

12

Kildare

8

11

Kilkenny

7

12

Laois

12

12

Leitrim

12

12

Limerick

12

12

Longford

12

12

Louth

12

12

Mayo

12

12

Meath

12

12

Monaghan

11

12

Offaly

12

11

Roscommon

9

8

Sligo

12

12

Tipperary

12

12

Waterford

10

12

Westmeath

12

10

Wexford

12

12

Wicklow

12

11

Total

290

305

Rural Regeneration & Development Fund Applications 2018 & 2019

County

Applications Received 2018

Applications Received 2019

Carlow

6

2

Cavan

5

3

Clare

23

6

Cork

66

4

Donegal

12

3

Dublin

1

0

Galway

14

4

Kerry

14

6

Kildare

13

0

Kilkenny

9

3

Laois

5

1

Leitrim

5

2

Limerick

18

5

Longford

3

1

Louth

4

0

Mayo

13

4

Meath

8

3

Monaghan

9

2

Offaly

5

3

Roscommon

5

2

Sligo

5

1

Tipperary

6

4

Waterford

5

2

Westmeath

3

0

Wexford

11

3

Wicklow

3

3

Multiple Locations

9

2

Total

280

69

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