Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) supports capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for RRDF funding of €414 million for projects costing €571 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 to construction. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.

RRDF funding of €180,000 was allocated to the Coláiste Íosagáin Campus in 2019 for a Category 2 project costing €268,000. This project will complete an overall Coláiste Íosagáin Campus masterplan which will set out the economic, planning and environmental case for the re-purposing of the building structure and the surrounding area. Údarás na Gaeltachta is currently finalising the masterplan.

The fifth call for Category 1 RRDF applications closed on 8 February, and I can confirm that an application for funding has been received from Údarás na Gaeltachta for the Category 1 stage of this project.

The application process for Category 1 proposals is highly competitive in nature. All applications are considered on merit by my Department in line with strict eligibility criteria, under the oversight of a Project Advisory Board.

Once the assessment process is complete, my Department will prepare a report setting out recommended projects. My role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding under the Scheme.