The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major capital investment programme, which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. The focus of the RRDF is on rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people.
Responsibility for the management, procurement and delivery of RRDF projects rests with designated ‘Lead Bodies'. This includes Kerry County Council, which has been allocated over €8.5m in respect of two linked RRDF projects in Caherciveen.
In 2022, the Caherciveen Town Regeneration Project (Phase 1) was awarded Category 2 RRDF funding of €2.056m. Kerry County Council has advised of the following progress on this project;
• planning approval is now in place and detailed design has been completed for the conservation, renovation and extension of the Carnegie Community Building.
• planning is approved and detailed design is ongoing and expected to be completed in Q4 2026 for the enhancement of the Fair Green amenity and introduction of a one-way system for greater connectivity to the town centre.
• planning approval is now in place and detailed design is completed for the development of a waterfront amenity and board walk.
• Land has been acquired to develop a boardwalk and car & bus parking and a council depot has been relocated.
In 2024, having secured planning and with detailed designs substantially complete, Phase 2 of the Caherciveen Town Regeneration Project was allocated Category 1 RRDF funding of €6.46m. Kerry County Council has advised of the following progress on this project;
• the tender stage for the construction of the Carnegie Community Building has recently been completed and, following engagement with my officials, will now move to construction. Kerry County Council will award this construction contract with the next 4 weeks. The construction works will take an estimated 18 months to complete.
• In respect of the other phase of the project developing a waterfront amenity and board walk from the South Kerry Greenway to the marina along the Fertha River, tenders were published with a closing date of 2nd of March 2026. Following the completion of the tender report and receipt of approval to award contract from the RRDF, Kerry County Council expect that this construction project will commence in Q2 2026.
My officials remain in ongoing contact with all local authorities to ensure that the delivery of projects funded under the range of schemes implemented by my department is expedited. I am committed to ensuring that the substantial investment provided by my department across rural Ireland can continue to support high quality and transformational projects in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy.
