Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2019
555. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the projects by type approved under the rural regeneration and development fund to date; the lead agency in each case; the amount sanctioned in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50401/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 to the Fund closed in September 2018. There was a large response to the first call, with 280 applications received under Categories 1 and 2.
Category 1 related to projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which were ready to proceed, while Category 2 projects were those which required further development to become ready for Category 1 status.
On foot of the first call, 38 successful Category 1 projects and 46 Category 2 projects were announced, with funding of €86m provided from the Fund to support projects worth €117m.
The second call for Category 1 applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed on 6 August 2019. There was an excellent response from across the country and my Department received 69 applications for funding. I announced the successful projects from the second call on the 6th November 2019. 26 projects were approved for funding of €62 million to support projects costing €95 million.
The tables below lists the Category 1 and Category 2 projects which were allocated funding under the two calls to date. The table contained in the following link also sets out the sector the project best fits within, though it should be noted that projects can be relevant to multiple sectors.
