Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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21. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the significance which the rural regeneration fund will have for rural Ireland with particular reference to rural towns and villages further to the recent announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25784/18]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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40. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he will provide further details of the rural regeneration and development fund which will provide new funding streams for rural towns, villages and outlying rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25322/18]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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44. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the opportunities that are available for County Kildare projects to benefit from the Project Ireland 2040 rural regeneration fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25294/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 40 and 44 together.

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will make a significant and sustainable positive impact on rural communities in the years ahead.

It can help strengthen rural Ireland through supporting job creation and addressing depopulation where this is an issue.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed to providing €1 billion for the new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over the period 2019-2027. The fund will be key to strengthening rural economies and communities as planned for in the National Planning Framework.

The fund will provide the opportunity to drive collaborative, coordinated and complementary packages of investments between Departments, agencies, Local Authorities and other public bodies to work together to transform rural towns and villages and surrounding areas.

Funding of €315 million has been provided over the period 2019 to 2022, which will allow both further activity under existing initiatives as well as the introduction of new investment initiatives under the Fund to be supported during this period. There are no specific counties earmarked for investment, or specific projects assigned to this Fund in the NDP; instead the Plan makes clear that allocations from the Fund will be made on a competitive bid based approach.

My Department is currently finalising arrangements for the detailed operation of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and I will announce the details in late June following consultation with relevant Government colleagues.