What the Rural Regeneration and Development fund is
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a commitment of €1 billion by government to be invested in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund can fund projects including (but not limited to):
- infrastructure that may be needed to support town centre housing and/or commercial development
- measures to address building vacancy including building refurbishment, redevelopment and/or demolition
- the development of community or public facilities infrastructure including improvements to roads, bridges and car parking facilities
- infrastructure that improves telecommunications connectivity
- projects that support job creation, entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas (for example: development of Digital Hubs, Enterprise Hubs, Creative Hubs, or training facilities)
- enhancement of heritage and/or other community assets including the provision/enhancement of recreational or leisure facilities.
Who is eligible
The fund will focus on all settlements and rural areas with fewer than 10,000 people which are located outside the five city metropolitan areas.
Rural towns with a population of over 10,000 people are eligible to apply for funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.
A maximum of 80% funding will be considered where community contributions form a significant element of the match-funding.