John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

31. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the REDZ scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31162/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following on from the pilot Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) initiative in 2015, I launched a new phase of the REDZ initiative on 21September 2016. A total of €5 million has been allocated under REDZ 2016, compared to an allocation of €3.8 million in 2015.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 is to utilise the synergies and interdependencies between rural towns and their outlying areas to generate local economic activity.

The 2016 REDZ scheme will provide funding for projects of differing scale and ambition that share the mutual objective of supporting economic development in rural areas. The scheme will also encourage collaboration between Local Authorities on larger projects.

Full and detailed information regarding the scheme was sent to all Local Authorities in early October with a view to receiving application by mid-November and making the funding available to approved applications by early December.