Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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73. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund could be used to fund the capital works necessary to open Killucan station on the Dublin to Sligo line in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15199/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It would not be appropriate for me to give a view at this time on the merits or otherwise of any individual project which may seek funding in the future.

I am considering what the focus of the second call for funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund should be and I hope to make an announcement on this shortly. In advance of any announcement I am carefully considering the feedback received on the first call for funding.

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is there to support ambitious and strategic projects which have the potential to transform rural economies and communities. The Government has committed €1 billion over 10 years to the Fund.

The first call for proposals led to funding countrywide of €86 million. Full details on all the requirements which projects seeking funding under this first call had to meet can be found on my Departments web-site.

It is worth noting that calls under the Fund are determined on a competitive basis and not all projects which meet the requirements may be funded.

In that regard, all applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund undergo a comprehensive evaluation process.  This involves assessment by my Department and oversight by a Project Advisory Board, established to make recommendations on the suitability of applications for funding. 

In relation to your question therefore I cannot comment on individual projects or be prescriptive at this stage on what the requirements of the next call will be. I do not expect the overall objectives of the Fund to change however and it will be up to applicants to show in their applications how they meet all the requirements and objectives of the Fund.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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74. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of Rural Regeneration and Development Fund applications received from west County Galway related to category 1 and category 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15356/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The first call for applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed in September 2018 . There were 280 applications received, 126 of which were 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.  

My Department received 14 applications for proposals either wholly or partially located in County Galway - nine Category 1 proposals and five Category 2 proposals.

Of these, nine applications were approved for funding - four Category 1 proposals and five Category 2 proposals. In total Galway County received funding of €8.27 million from the Fund.

Table 1. List of Successful Category 1 projects taking place, either wholly or partially, in County Galway.

Table 2. List of Successful Category 2 projects taking place, either wholly or partially, in County Galway.