33. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he monitors the failure of county councils to spend RRDF funding, in particular the case of Baltinglass, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53314/26]

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major capital investment programme which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas.

Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who are responsible for delivering projects and managing project spend. As a general rule, the RRDF will provide up to 80% of the total project costs, with at least 20% to be provided in matching contributions by the applicants.

Funding from the RRDF is made over the approved lifetime of the project. This is on the basis of actual expenditure incurred and claimed thereafter by the Lead Body through my Department. Wicklow County Council is the Lead Body for the ‘Making Baltinglass the Hub for South West Wicklow’ project, funded with support of over €2.67 million under the RRDF. I can confirm that the Council has drawn down over €622k of this funding to date, with an additional claim currently being processed.

Local authorities delivering projects approved under the RRDF are in receipt of Exchequer funding. As such, they are subject to the requirements related to public spending code for capital projects which are detailed in the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform’s ‘Infrastructure Guidelines’.

The lifecycle of large-scale infrastructure projects such as RRDF typically ranges between 3 and 5 years. The Department’s procedures are specifically designed to support local authorities and to accommodate unforeseen changes which can inevitably arise during this construction cycle.

In relation to the Baltinglass project, whilst the Department had previously provided approval to Wicklow County Council to proceed to tender for public realm works, the Council subsequently confirmed an intention to revise design elements of the project.  The Council confirmed that this was to address matters raised in a Quality Audit completed in December 2025. The Council has advised that this audit was a Department of Transport requirement for all projects on public roads, pulling together several sub audits such as accessibility, road safety, walkability, cycling, public transport, etc., on the scheme.

The Council also confirmed that it currently in the process of preparing revised construction tender documents to reflect the design changes, and that it expects to go out to the market for tender for works over the coming short number of months.

My department remains in ongoing engagement with local authorities and other delivery partners to provide any assistance it can for capital projects funded by the Department. In addition, my department provides funding to local authorities to employ technical and professional staff on Capital Deliver Teams to support timely and effective delivery.

I am committed to ensuring that the RRDF can continue to support high quality and transformational projects across rural Ireland in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy.