Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
861. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of rural regeneration and development fund from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15165/25]
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.
Since 2020, RRDF funding of over €34.5 million of has been allocated for 13 projects across County Cork. Cork County Council is the Project Lead for 10 projects.
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.
From 2020 to date, my department has provided Cork County Council with RRDF funding totalling c. €4.07 million for such vouched expenditure, which is set out in table 1 below.
In addition to those RRDF projects under the lead of Cork County Council, a further 3 RRDF projects have been approved in County Cork since 2020. These projects are set out in Table 2 below.
Table 2:
|
Lead Party |
Project |
Location |
Funding Awarded* |
|
Fáílte Ireland |
The Beara Breifne Way |
West Cork (Part of a Multi-county Project) |
c.€33,000 |
|
Comhar na nOileán |
Neart Enterprise, Creative and Digital Hub |
Sherkin Island |
€1.92m |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
Coláiste Íosagáin Regional Development Centre |
Baile Bhúirne |
€3.23m |
*Figures rounded.
