Mr Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development , has welcomed the announcement that €23 million has been allocated from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to projects in the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) region. The AEC covers Counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, and Kerry.
Speaking today, Minister Canney said:
“The establishment of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a key initiative of Project Ireland 2040. The Fund, which is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development, will provide €1 billion in investment over 10 years to support the renewal of towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. Projects supported by the Fund will have a transformational impact on the areas being funded and will be a game-changer for rural Ireland.
“Of the €62 million which has been announced in the latest round of RRDF funding, over €23 million – or 37% of the total – is for projects based in the Atlantic Economic Corridor region. Eleven of the 26 successful projects are located in the AEC.
“The funding announced for these projects is in addition to previous announcements of over €48 million from the Rural Regeneration Fund for projects in the AEC region.”
Projects being supported include:
€3.6 million for a town centre regeneration project in Killybegs, Co. Donegal.
€1.6 million to repurpose Loughrea Town Hall in Co. Galway as a cultural, tourism and enterprise hub.
€2.6 million to restore and reconstruct the east wing of Ballintubber Abbey, Co. Mayo, to deliver a flagship cultural and heritage attraction.
€1.3 million to deliver a Food Hub in Listowel, Co. Kerry.
Other projects are being funded in counties Clare, Roscommon, Leitrim, Donegal, and Mayo.
Minister Canney continued:
“I would like to congratulate the successful applicants and wish them well with regard to their projects. I also encourage those who were not successful under this call to continue to demonstrate the innovative thinking and strategic focus displayed in their applications and to take on board the feedback which will be provided by my Department, with a view to applying again next year.”