Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications between category 1 and 2 projects made under the rural regeneration and development fund by county to date, in tabular form; the number of successful and unsuccessful project applications, respectively, by category that applied for funding by county; the successful projects by county that have been approved for funding by category; the value of funding approved for each such project; the number of successful applicants that have received approved funding to date; the value of same; the number of unsuccessful applicants that have not received approved funding to date; the amount allocated for the fund in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8766/19]

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. €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities. €315m is allocated to the Fund for 2019-2022.

There was an excellent response from all across the country, with 280 applications received. 126 applications related to Category 1, "shovel ready" projects while 154 related to Category 2 projects - those which needed development funding to become potential Category 1 applications in future calls for applications.

In November 2018, I announced the first set of 18 successful Category 1 projects, providing €24.4m in funding for projects with an overall value of €34.6m. Just last week in Castleblayney, I announced another 20 successful Category 1 projects and 46 Category 2 projects which will benefit from support from the Fund of €62m, with a total project value of €83m. Overall, this first call from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will provide €86m in support for projects worth €117m.

A breakdown of the number per county of successful and unsuccessful applications as well as the number of applications received from each county is set out in Table 1.

A list of the successful projects by county and the amount of funding approved for each project is set out in Tables 2 and 3.

My Department is currently engaged with the successful lead applicants in agreeing milestones and schedules as part of due diligence and contractual arrangements. Payment dates will also be agreed as part of this process.

Table 1. Number of Applications by Category and County.

Table 2. List of Successful Category 1 Projects

Table 3. List of Successful Category 2 Projects

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of the €55 million funding allocated to the rural regeneration and development fund in 2019 or the planned initial funding of €315 million to the fund on a phased basis over the period 2019 to 2022 that will be reprofiled to another Department following spending overruns; and the amount being reprofiled from the fund for the allocations announced to date. [8767/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed €1 billion to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities. The Fund has been allocated €315m over the period 2019 to 2022 and the various allocations over that period will be confirmed as part of the annual budgetary process. Certain projects under the fund are multi-annual and this will also be provided for.

I do not expect the overall 4 year allocation for the Fund to be impacted by any re-profiling taken to address capital funding shortfalls elsewhere and my Department remains focused on delivering on its mission with the aid of the vote allocated to us for that purpose. Indeed, in respect of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, just last week in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan I announced the details of 66 projects which were successful in the first call under the Fund. These projects will benefit from €62m in funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and are worth €83m in total investment for rural communities. Combined with the first announcement I made in November 2018 of 18 successful projects, the Fund has made available a total of €86m in funding to enable projects worth €117m to be delivered across every county in the country.

Further to the above, I also expect to be in a position shortly to launch a second call for applications under the Fund. I am satisfied that the funding commitment is available to enable these projects and future projects to be delivered over the next four years.