Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

95. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding has been given to areas in Louth under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55826/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, or the RRDF, is a major capital investment programme that seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas.

The Fund is organised on the basis of two categories of funding.

Category 1 relates to larger 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, typically up to €1m, to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.

Last week I confirmed a further round of funding of €20.5 million for 30 Category 2 RRDF projects nationally. This included over €607,000 to Louth County Council for a public realm project in Dunleer town. I am happy to confirm that this project was identified as a priority by the community itself in its Town Centre First Plan.

Including the Dunleer project, over €8.1m has now been allocated to 5 projects across County Louth. Within this, two major Category 1 projects have received funding. The Ardee Castle project received an initial approval in principle allocation of €2.1m, and I was happy to allocate a further €1m to the project earlier this year following the completion of the construction procurement process. I understand that the main building works are due to commence shortly on this project.

The second such project is the €3m Omeath Village Regeneration Project, which I officially opened in July, and which will bring very real social and economic benefits to the area by helping the village to capitalise on the increased visitor numbers along the Great Eastern Greenway and the Narrow Bridge area. This is a great example of how rural communities can leverage the funding available under the RRDF to great effect.

I am committed to ensuring that the range of funding schemes operated by my Department can help to support vibrant rural communities all across the country.