Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2025
910. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent on projects under the rural regeneration and development fund within County Wexford, in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14184/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a strategic capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland.
Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who take the lead role in individual projects and manage project spend. As a general rule, the RRDF will provide up to 80% of the total project costs, with at least 20% to be provided in matching contributions by the applicants.
In 2024, two projects in Co. Wexford received Approval in Principle for RRDF funding worth over €2.3 million under the fifth Call for Category 1 proposals. These projects are set out in Table 1, immediately below.
Table 1:
|
Project |
Location |
RRDF Funding Allocated |
|
New Ross Pedestrianisation of Quay Street, part of the town's Historic Quarter |
New Ross |
c.€865,000 |
|
Dunbrody Visitor Centre Tourism Facilities |
Dunbrody |
c.€1,467,000 |
Funding from the RRDF is made to Project Leads over the approved lifetime of the project. This is on the basis of actual expenditure incurred, and claimed thereafter by the Lead Party through the Department of Rural and Community Development.
In 2024 and to date in 2025, my department has provided RRDF funding totalling c. €543,000 to 3 projects in Co. Wexford for such vouched expenditure, which is set out in Table 2.
Table 2:
|
Project |
Location |
RRDF Funding Provided |
|
Market House, Gorey |
Gorey |
c. €416,000 |
|
Irish National Heritage Park and Hook Lighthouse |
Ferrycarraig, the Hook Peninsula |
c. €73,000 |
|
New Ross Regeneration Phase 2 |
New Ross |
c.€54,000 |
