Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2023
508. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if Cahir, County Tipperary, which received approximately €12 million from her Department for town centre renovation, will be able to draw down funds to begin work on the car park and library projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6123/23]
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, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects costing €542 million.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
The Pathway to the Regeneration of Cahir Town Centre project was approved funding of €663,362 from the second call for Category 2 application in 2020. This Category 2 funding enabled the lead party, Tipperary County Council, to develop detailed designs for the project and to prepare it for future submission under Category 1.
The Activating Cahir’s Town Centre Regeneration Strategy project was submitted under the fourth call for Category 1 applications, which closed in April 2022. On 10th November 2022 I announced that the project had emerged as successful under this call and allocated funding of €11,915,749 to the project.
The project will be delivered based on a timeframe to be agreed upon between my Department and Tipperary County Council. This timeframe will be dependent on the level of progress achieved in relation to the Carrick on Suir Regeneration Plan project, also allocated funding in November, and on other existing Rural Regeneration and Development Fund projects currently being progressed by Tipperary County Council.
