Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
735. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a community sports, recreation and youth facility consisting of playing pitches, walkways and recreation areas in proximity to a growing village can be considered partly or in whole under the qualifying criteria for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54613/21]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 164 projects have been approved for funding of €252m for projects costing over €343m.
A guidance document detailing the Fund's objectives is issued before each call for applications. Subject to those objectives, applicants can subject proposals for projects which meet the needs of a particular town, village or area. In that regard, projects which have been allocated funding to date range across sectors, including town and village regeneration, enterprise development, tourism development, digital and co-working initiatives, libraries, arts and cultural facilities and sports and recreation facilities. Projects are often a combination of a number of these elements.
It would be open to a local authority or other State-funded body eligible under the rules of the Fund to make an application in relation to a the type of project described by the Deputy, if that were identified as a priority in that area, county or region. However, it should also be noted that the guidance document referred to above will set out clearly the aims and objectives of that particular call for applications under the Fund, as well as the type of projects that will and will not be prioritised for support. When considering making an application to the Fund, potential applicants should review this material carefully and engage with my Department through the information sessions provided as part of each call.
