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 and villages with a population of under 10,000 people.
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.
Last October 2025, I was delighted announced successful projects resulting from Category 2 applications, with funding of over €20.5 million being allocated to 30 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country.
I can confirm that it is my intention to launch a further Call for Proposals for larger scale Category 1 RRDF projects in the near future and the scheme criteria and application timelines applying under that Call are currently being finalised.
RRDF applications are assessed on a competitive basis and against transparent criteria. This information, together with the scoring system upon which the assessment process will be undertaken, is made available to applicants 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, and policy coherence.
I can confirm that where a project has previously not been deemed successful in a funding application, subject to its meeting the prevailing eligibility criteria, it may be submitted in a subsequent Call for Proposals.
