Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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535. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding applications for grant aid for projects (details supplied); when projects under these schemes will be finalised and approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46791/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September with almost 300 applications received. The assessment of applications for the Fund is being overseen by a Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and external experts. Assessment of Category 1 applications is currently underway with funding of €55 million allocated in Budget 2019 for this round. Successful applicants for the first round of funding will be notified following an announcement by the Minister due by the end of November.

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure or the necessary maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in Ireland.

On 28^thMay last, I launched the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme for 2018, under three separate measures:

- Measure 1: Small maintenance/promotion of existing infrastructure (maximum grant €20,000)

- Measure 2: Medium scale repair/upgrade and development of new small/medium infrastructure (maximum grant €200,000), and

- Measure 3: Repair/upgrade and development of larger more strategic projects (grant of between €200,001 and €500,000).

I recently announced the allocation of €1.8 million in respect of 128 projects under Measure 1.

I expect to announce successful projects under Measure 3 shortly, and will subsequently announce successful projects under Measure 2.