Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects to approve applications made to her Department in respect of the town and village renewal scheme 2021 and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund 2021. [60155/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding to support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages. The 2021 Scheme was launched with an indicative budget of €15 million and places particular emphasis on addressing vacancy and dereliction, projects supporting remote working, and enhancing town centre living.

My Department received 167 applications under this Scheme in 2021. These applications are currently undergoing a formal assessment process and I expect to announce the successful applications shortly.

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 164 projects have been approved for funding of €255m for projects costing over €347m.

The third call for Category 2 applications closed on the 30th July 2021. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls under for Category 1 applications.

My Department received 53 applications to this call. Applications are currently being assessed by my Department under the oversight of the Project Advisory Board, which is comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts. Once that process is complete, my Department will prepare a report setting out recommended projects and my role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding. I expect to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks.

I will be announcing the fourth call for Category 1 projects before the end of 2021. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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56. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will consider the Dursey cable car project for funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in view of An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for the upgrade of the cable car; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60192/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 164 projects have been approved for funding of €255m for projects costing over €347m.

I will be announcing the fourth call for Category 1 applications in the coming weeks. Category 1 relates to large scale capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed.

The application process under the Fund is competitive and applications can be only be made by State-funded bodies, such as Local Authorities, Local Development Companies etc. Any such body can make an application in relation to a capital project at the required state of readiness if they consider it to be a priority in terms of the objectives of Our Rural Future, the aims of the National Planning Framework and the achievement of the National Strategic Outcomes. However, it is vitally important that prospective applicants also carefully consider the guidance issued as part of the call for applications to ensure that their proposal is in alignment with the stated focus of the call and the objectives of the Fund. In that regard, when the call for applications is announced, an application form and guidance document will be made available on my Department’s website for those seeking further information. My Department will also liaise with prospective applicants to provide further guidance as necessary.

Applications received are assessed by my Department under the oversight of the Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts. Once the assessment 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.