Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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3458. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next round of the rural regeneration and development fund will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41307/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) forms part of the wider rural regeneration and development programme which also includes the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

In terms of RRDF Category 1 (Major Projects), three calls for applications have been completed to date, while two calls for applications have been completed in relation to Category 2 (Seed Funding). Arising from the outcome of these calls, 89 Category 1 projects have been approved for funding of €215 million for projects worth €292 million. 75 Category 2 projects have been approved for funding of €34 million for projects worth €46 million. In total, funding of €249 million has been approved to date for 164 projects worth a total of €338 million.

The most recent announcement in relation to the Fund was the completion of the third call for Category 1 applications in April 2021, with 25 projects emerging as successful and funding of €81 million allocated.

I announced the third call for Category 2 applications in May 2021. The closing date for applications is the 30th July 2021 at 12pm. An application and guidance document is available on my Department's website.

A further call for Category 1 applications is expected shortly.