Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
106. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will re-open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56026/25]
View answer109. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when another round of category 1 funding for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will be announced; the criteria that will apply; the measures in place, to ensure a fair distribution of funds; the date on which applications will open and close; if projects which were previously unsuccessful will be allowed re-submit, such as the Dunshaughlin courthouse and town centre project in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54275/25]
View answer132. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if any revision of the eligibility criteria for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is being considered to ensure more towns can apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55736/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 109 and 132 together.
Administered by my Department, The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major capital programme that supports the revitalisation of rural Ireland. It supports large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in towns, villages and outlying areas with a population of under 10,000 people.
The RRDF forms just one part of a wider suite of funding streams within my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme which are aimed at supporting rural communities. Last week I announced a further €20.5 million in RRDF funding for 30 Category 2 projects across rural Ireland. Details of these projects can be found on the Department’s website.
Calls for RRDF applications are sought under two categories;
• 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 to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
RRDF applications are assessed on a competitive basis and against transparent criteria. Each call for proposals details the objective of the call and the eligibility criteria applying to project applications. This information, together with the scoring system upon which the assessment process will be undertaken, is made widely available at the outset of each call. Examples of previous criteria under which applications have been assessed include the proposed project’s social and economic impact, regenerative potential, financial sustainability, policy coherence and climate action measures.
Whilst RRDF applications are assessed on a competitive basis, the geographic spread of current RRDF projects demonstrates countrywide coverage across all RRDF projects approved to date. Details and locations of these projects can be found on the Department’s website.
Subject to the prevailing scheme parameters and eligibility criteria, a project which may not have been deemed successful following an application and assessment process, may be submitted in a subsequent call for proposals.
I can confirm my intention to launch a further call for proposals for larger scale Category 1 RRDF projects before the end of the year. The scheme parameters and eligibility criteria that will apply under this call will be made available as they are finalised and an application window will be open for a number of months to facilitate the development of high quality applications.
The Programme for Government has committed to increase the RRDF fund I will ensure that the RRDF can continue to support high quality and transformational projects across rural Ireland in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy.
