Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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577. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cost of each seminar held on Project Ireland 2040 up to and including September 2018 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39589/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and I hosted a Special Forum attended by over 220 stakeholders on the theme of Creating Stronger Rural Economies and Communities, in the Town Hall Theatre in Westport on 13 July 2018. This was part of the Government’s engagement with the public on Project Ireland 2040. €11,704 in costs has paid out to date in relation to the Westport event, which will be shared between my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

My Department also participated in a number of regional information sessions for the public relating to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (which is being overseen by my Department) in September. The sessions were also attended by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, as it related to their role overseeing the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. Both funds were established on foot of the €4 billion in funding set aside under Project Ireland 2040 funds for rural development, urban regeneration, climate action and innovation. The information sessions were held in Cork, Carrick on Shannon, Tullamore and Drogheda and were hosted by the three Regional Assemblies and the Irish Local Development Network. As such, no hosting or organisational costs were incurred by my Department in relation to these events.