Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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2579. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the application process for 2021 for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19569/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established to deliver on the National Strategic Objective in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities. The Fund provides investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas.

Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2.

Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.

The application process for the Fund is competitive in nature. Applications are assessed under the oversight of the Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts. Once that process is complete, my Department prepares a report setting out recommended projects and my role as Minister is to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding.

Just this week, arising from the 3rd call for Category 1 applications which closed in December 2020, I announced funding of €75 million for 24 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country. These projects will deliver total investment of €87 million.

I will be announcing the next call for Category 2 applications in the coming weeks and a further call for Category 1 applications will be announced later in 2021. Following each announcement, an application form and guidance document will be made available on the Department’s website for those seeking information on the call. My Department will also liaise directly with prospective applicants to provide further guidance as necessary.