Denis Naughten
Ceist:32. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to reopen the rural regeneration fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50496/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 5 December 2019
Ceisteanna (32)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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 relates to projects which have all the necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed, while Category 2 projects are those which require further project development support to enable them to become ready to apply under Category 1 in future calls.
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 Fund closed on 6th August 2019. There was an excellent response from across the country and my Department received 69 applications for funding. I announced the successful projects on the 6th November 2019. €62 million in funding was allocated to 26 projects around the country, worth a total value of €95 million.
I expect to announce the second call for Category 2 applications before the end of 2019. A further category 1 call will follow in early 2020.