Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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82. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to detail the funding provided to County Meath in 2024 and to date in 2025; the schedule of funding calls for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25740/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department supports rural development through a wide range of schemes including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

It also supports programmes which target and address social and economic deprivation in communities throughout the country such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and the Community Services Programme. Most recently the Community Centre Investment Fund has been established to provide investment in community centres right across the country.

With regard to specific scheme funding calls, I have asked my officials to compile an indicative calendar for calls over the next 6 to 12 months and this will be published shortly. I would encourage anyone interested in my Department’s funding schemes to visit our website and relevant Local Authority websites where details of future calls will be advertised.

County Meath has received significant recent funding, with over €8 million allocated to Meath in 2024 under the various schemes, and a further €4 million has allocated to date in 2025. Full details of the funding provided to Meath, and the many individual projects supported, can be found on my Department's website.

The Deputy will be pleased to note some examples of funded projects in Meath East, including;

• over €212,000 funding for a sensory garden in Kells under the Town and Village Renewal Programme;
• over €1.5 million in funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for the Kells Creative Placemaking/Kells Courthouse project;
• €500,000 under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme for the Nobber-Castletown Greenway and;
• €160,000 under the Building Acquisition Measure of TVRS for the purchase of a former national school to develop into a multi-purpose community space in Nobber.