Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the progress made to date under National Strategic Outcome 3 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39688/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.

The NDP contains expenditure commitments for National Strategic Outcome (NSO) 3 which relates to strengthening rural economies and communities. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), launched in 2018, is providing the investment needed to support rural renewal, strengthen and build resilience in rural towns, villages and communities and deliver on the objectives of Project Ireland 2040. The RRDF is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and is complemented by a range of additional programmes and schemes delivered under the Department’s Rural Regeneration Programme as part of Project Ireland 2040, which helps maintain and develop the growth and vitality of rural areas and supports communities and organisations to meet their needs. The four schemes funded through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are the RRDF Category 1 and 2, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

The RRDF Category 1 and Category 2 funding is targeted towards revitalising rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. This is being achieved through addressing dereliction, ensuring the re-use of heritage and other buildings and providing essential facilities and infrastructure, including remote working and digital hubs.

Since the launch of the RRDF funding of €584 million has been allocated to 243 projects.

Efforts to bring broadband to all parts of rural Ireland, regardless of remoteness, are part of the commitment in the NDP under NSO 3. By extending high-speed broadband to rural areas, it will ensure digital inclusion and economic opportunities to all of our citizens. I welcome the positive progress being made under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and I note that, as of July 2025 over 381,000 premises are now connected with 4,400 premises being added to the fibre network each month. It is expected to have over 420,000 premises connected by the end of 2025. The NBP programme is active in every county and is currently ahead of schedule.

Also under NSO 3, there has been significant investment in the Regional and Local Road Grant Programme this year.

Further details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 3 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million. Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.