4171. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide a list of each capital project over €1m in total expenditure funded or part funded by his Department on an annual and county basis since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63484/26]

My Department has developed a range of funding schemes and interventions which advance the development of towns and villages across the country. This includes both capital and current supports and ranges from small scale, targeted interventions to large projects with the potential to revitalise an area.

With regard to projects funded by these schemes in excess of €1 million, these are primarily projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the new build aspect of the Community Centre Investment Fund, and the Libraries Capital Programme.

The RRDF is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy through planned and sustainable regeneration that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, address vacancy and dereliction and ensure the reuse of heritage and other existing buildings and provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure in settlements, which will assist in attracting people to live, work and invest in rural areas. In Kildare, this programme has seen investment of over €5 million in the Athy Food, Drink and Skills Innovation Hub. Since 2020 some 87 projects have been approved for funding in excess of €1 million. All RRDF allocations since the establishment of the scheme can be found in tabular form at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/publications/rural-regeneration-and-development-fund-funding-allocations/.

The Community Centres Investment Fund is the largest ever capital investment in Community Centres. It provides funding for investments in community centres in order that these vital services remain useable, accessible, and safe and continue to meet the needs of the community into the future. In terms of projects in excess of €1 million details of the 12 new community centres approved for funding are available at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/community-centres-investment-fund-funding-allocations/.

Under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027, my Department is investing €22.6 million in eleven state-of-the-art library infrastructure projects and a further €2.6 million in twelve next generation mobile vehicles. This includes an allocation of €3 million to Kildare County Council for the Kildare County Library, Archives Cultural Centre. All Libraries Development funding allocations are detailed at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/libraries-development-funding-allocations/.

here were also 2 projects funded under the Community Recognition Fund (CRF), both approved in 2023, for in excess of €1 million, and details of all allocations under the CRF can be found at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/community-recognition-fund-funding-allocations/.

In addition to the above, as part of the national development plan my Department has approved funding for the Inis Oírr pier project. This is capital project is valued at €35.75 million. Details of this, and other islands funding is available at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/islands-funding-allocations/.

I am confident that such capital investment in towns and villages across Ireland is bringing significant benefits to communities and rural economies in particular.