Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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904. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he has received applications under the various rural development schemes in the past two years by county; the extent of the approvals in the past; his expectations for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8117/20]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department implements a suite of measures aimed at providing direct financial support for the development and enhancement of rural areas as part of my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme.

Details of the number of applications received in 2018 and 2019 under the CLÁR Programme, the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are provided in the tables below. The variation in number of applications received in any given year can reflect the scheme criteria for the year and the timing of calls for proposals.

Applications in respect of the schemes listed below are received directly by my Department. Details in respect of the LEADER Programme are not included as these are received and processed by the Local Action Groups that administer LEADER throughout the country.

Details of the grants approved under each scheme are available by following the relevant links on my Department's website at: . It should be noted that the number of approvals differs from the number of applications received, as these schemes are operated on a competitive basis and are generally oversubscribed.

In relation to the position for 2020, the CLÁR Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme are being launched this week as a €30 million package of co-ordinated and complementary supports aimed at aiding the economic and social recovery of rural Ireland in response to COVID-19. Details in respect of all of these schemes and the projects eligible to receive funding will be available on the gov.ie website by the end of this week.

Under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the second call for Category 2 projects, relating to project development and enabling initiatives, closed on the 28^thFebruary 2020. There was an excellent response from across the country and 76 applications were received.

My Department is currently engaged in the assessment process in relation to the applications, carried out in conjunction with 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. My role will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding.

CLÁR Applications 2018 & 2019

Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme Applications 2018 & 2019

Town and Village Renewal Scheme Applications 2018 & 2019

Rural Regeneration & Development Fund Applications 2018 & 2019