Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1681. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his response to the motion recently passed by Donegal County Council (details supplied). [29762/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise that my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure, the National Development Plan and Reform holds responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It has been confirmed to me that the allocation of funds for sectoral programmes under the EU Cohesion Policy, including the ERDF, is subject to a period of negotiations between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU – representing the EU member states - under the EU’s long-term budget - the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Negotiations on the post-2027 MFF will formally commence in the coming months and will be subject to a series of interactions between the EU and Member States, in consultation with regional bodies, that will inform the design and implementation of programmes. Given that the Government is awaiting the Commission’s proposals on the future EU budget, it is not possible to at this stage in the process to determine the future structure and funding allocation to Irish regions for the ERDF in the next 2028-2035 programming period.

Administered by my Department, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major programme which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. It forms part of my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme and has allocated €588 million to 243 projects across Ireland to date.

Broadly, the objective of the RRDF is to assist in revitalising our rural towns and villages, in line with Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First Policy. The Fund supports planned and sustainable regeneration that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, address vacancy and dereliction and ensure the re-use of heritage and other existing buildings. This will help to provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure, which will in turn assist in attracting people back to live in rural areas.

Funding under the RRDF is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who take the lead role in individual projects and manage project spend. The projects supported by the RRDF are coordinated and integrated projects which can involve co-operation between public bodies and communities, philanthropic funders and the private sector.

On a national basis, the RRDF provides up to 80% of the total project costs and requires at least 20% to be provided in matching contributions by the applicants. In order to reflect the North West Region’s EU designation as a Region in Transition, the RRDF already allows for a higher RRDF funding rate of 90% in that region.

The Programme for Government recognises the importance of investing in our rural towns and villages through schemes such as the RRDF, and contains commitments to both increase the Fund, and to continue to invest in regional tourism projects under the Fund. I will continue to seek increased funding for the Rural Development Investment Programme as part of the annual budgetary process.

I am committed to ensuring that the RRDF can continue to support high quality and transformational projects across rural Ireland in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future.