Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2022
297. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans, if any, to introduce capital funding schemes modelled on the REDZ scheme to invest in the development and or expansion of local enterprise centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52389/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) are functional, rather than administrative, geographic areas that reflect the spatial patterns of local economic activity and development. They are, in effect, sub-county zones within which most people live and work.
The central objective of the REDZ model was to stimulate economic activity at a local level by strengthening collaborative development between rural towns and their outlying areas.
A pilot REDZ scheme operated in 2015, with a second pilot phase being run in 2016. A total of €9.956m was approved for 98 projects countywide under the REDZ Scheme in 2015/16.
The REDZ approach was incorporated into my Department’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme from 2017. Both this scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are informed, inter alia, by the collaborative aspects of the REDZ scheme. I was happy to confirm as part of Budget 2023 that over €200m has been secured for my Department's Rural Development schemes such as the Town ad Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and LEADER.
