Rural regeneration fund appeal
Deputy Collins complains that Cork South-West was again overlooked in the rural regeneration fund despite shovel-ready projects, and says communities feel questions remain. The Taoiseach replies that the fund is competitive and allocations depend on assessment by an advisory body, though he will look into the specific project.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed to provide an additional €1 billion for the rural regeneration fund. Last week, the third round of funding under this fund was announced. The constituency of Cork South-West was again overlooked, even though there were shovel-ready projects that have been ready since the inception of the fund, believe it or not. In the previous round six months ago, in spite of several projects applying, Cork South-West got nothing. Listening to many people in west Cork in the last week, they feel the rural regeneration fund has numerous questions hanging over it. I do not begrudge any county getting funds from it. County Mayo got €6.4 million last week. Can the Taoiseach step in this time on the same question I asked him six and 12 months ago? A community voluntary group in Schull, west Cork, has spent €500,000 in voluntary donations and has a shovel-ready harbour development project that would be a game-changer for west Cork. No matter what they do and how many times they apply, they cannot get one cent under the fund.
Comment on this
The rural regeneration fund is going well. It is a €1 billion fund, as the Deputy knows, that we have set aside to invest in rural communities, towns, villages and parishes all over the country. As is the case with any competitive fund, there is no guarantee that every constituency and county will get money every time. That is not how it works. It is based on an assessment of the projects and an independent advisory body helps to score and assess them for the Minister. I do not know why the particular project in Schull that the Deputy mentioned has not got funding but it would be reasonable for them to get some feedback from the Department as to why they did not. I will ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, to make sure that is done.
Comment on this
They are 12 months waiting for it.