Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding drawn down to date for a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9223/23]

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, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects costing €542 million.

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 Coláiste Íosagáin Campus project was approved funding of €180,000 from the first call for Category 2 applications in 2019. This project will complete a master plan for the Coláiste Íosagáin Campus which will set out the economic, planning and environmental case for the re-purposing of the building structure and the surrounding area.

Based on progress reports submitted to my Department by the lead party, Údarás na Gaeltachta, I understand that work on this project has been progressing well. The Community Engagement Partners have been preparing the economic and business case for the project and the report will be finalised in Quarter 2 of 2023. A Partner Advisory Group is currently being established to advise on the direction of the project.

RRDF funding of €44,052 has been drawn down for the project to date and the lead party is expecting the remainder of the RRDF funding to be drawn down by the end of 2023.