Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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895. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an application for funding (details supplied) will be examined with a view to approving the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7569/20]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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896. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an application for funding (details supplied) will be examined with a view to approving the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7570/20]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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897. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an application for funding (details supplied) will be examined with a view to approving the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7571/20]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 895 to 897, inclusive, together.

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 second call for Category 2 applications for the Fund closed at on the 28^thFebruary and there was an excellent response from all across the country. My Department received 76 applications for funding under the call.

My Department is currently undertaking the initial assessment of the applications. The applications will then be discussed by the Project Advisory Board for the Fund, which is comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts.

On completion of this process, my Department will prepare a report setting out the projects which are recommended for approval and my role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding. I confirm the applications you referred to have been received.