Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton, has welcomed the call for proposals for Category 2 projects under Project Ireland 2040’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). The RRDF, operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development, will provide €1 billion over 10 years for rural renewal projects in towns and villages with populations under 10,000.
Speaking after the latest call for RRDF proposals, Minister Stanton said: “The RRDF aims to support small rural towns and villages by encouraging enterprise and tourism through transformative large-scale projects. Category 2 projects are strategic, large-scale projects at the early development stage which require further investment to be in a position to commence works which will then allow them to apply for Category 1 status under the RRDF. Proposals must provide an evidence-based plan for increasing activity and/or sustainable use.
“This is the second call for proposals under Category 2 of the RRDF under which €17 million has already been allocated to 46 Category 2 projects nationwide. Category 2 of the RRDF aims to target investment to ensure balanced regional growth. These projects must involve a partnership between Government Departments, State or public agencies, local authorities and communities and, can also include philanthropic funders and/or the private sector.
“The lead partner for category 2 proposals must be a state-funded body and, under the RRDF, each lead party is limited to a maximum of 3 applications per funding round. The closing date for receipt of Category 2 proposals is 12pm on Friday, 28 February 2020. Any groups interested in submitting a proposal can find further information including a guidance document and the RRDF online application form for Category 2 proposals is available on the Department’s website here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/c77144-rural-regeneration-and-development-fund/
“The latest call for proposals under the fund follows a second funding round for Category 1 or ‘Ready-to-Go’ proposals or initial phases of projects announced in April. These projects are those which have the necessary consents, such as planning permission in place, are at an advanced stage of design and are procurement ready. Following the second call for Category 1 projects, a total of 26 proposals were approved for funding of €62 million. Since its launch in 2018 the RRDF has provided total funding of €148 million to 110 projects across Ireland”; concluded Minister Stanton.
