Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I outlined to the Deputy in an earlier reply, the first call for applications for the rural regeneration and development fund closed at the end of September, with 290 applications received. Of these, 125 were for category one shovel ready projects, while the other 165 were for category two projects, which need development funding to become potential category one applications in future calls for applications. Assessment criteria are published and the applications are now assessed by a project advisory board.  The board includes representatives from key Departments and external experts. By the end of this month I am expecting to receive recommendations from the board on the first group of category one projects for funding and I will announce the first tranche of successful category one projects. Further announcements on successful category one and category two projects will follow. Funding of €315 million has been allocated for the fund for the period 2019 to 2022, of which €55 million has been allocated in budget 2019.

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