1125. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide information in relation to the grants issued in respect of the rural regeneration scheme, town and village renewal scheme, outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme and community centres investment fund in County Laois in each of the years since 2023 and the best estimate for 2026. [73488/26]

My department delivers a number of schemes under the Rural Development Investment Programme, which includes the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and Community Centre Investment Fund.

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. The focus of the RRDF is on rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people.

Since 2023, the RRDF has allocated over €188 million for 61 projects across Ireland. This includes over €4.3 million allocated to 2 projects located in County Laois, the Redevelopment of Derelict Courthouse (Heritage Building) into a Community and Enterprise Hub in Borris-in-Ossory, and part of the multi-county completion of the Barrow Blueway.

I was delighted to open an RRDF Call for Category 1 Proposals in February this year. This sought applications for strategically important, large-scale capital projects that have full planning and other consents in place and which are ready to commence. The assessment process for the RRDF applications received under this Call, which is undertaken on a competitive basis, is ongoing. Following the assessment of applications, I hope to announce the successful projects before the end of the year.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. This scheme places particular emphasis on projects which support sustainable employment creation, town centre resilience and regeneration, enhance streetscapes, and bringing derelict and vacant buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose community spaces. Since 2023, over €68 million has been allocated to over 300 projects across the country, of which over €2.7 million was allocated to 11 projects in County Laois.

A further TVRS Call for Proposals was issued to local authorities on the 16 September 2026 last. The closing date for the submission of applications is 22 January 2027 and successful applications will be announced in Q2 of 2027.

The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) was introduced to provide high quality, accessible, community spaces that are available to all groups in all communities in both rural and urban areas. Some €66.7 million has been allocated since 2023 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. This includes over €1.1 million for 23 refurbishment projects in Laois.

The closing date for applications under the CCIF 2026 has now passed. I expect to announce the successful projects before year-end.

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding under several measures for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the necessary repair, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland. This includes walking trails, cycleways, mountain access routes and facilities at rivers, lakes and beaches.

Since 2023, almost €48 million has been awarded to 556 projects nationwide of which funding of over €1.4 million was awarded for 20 projects in County Laois.

The deadline for applications for measure 1 and the project development measure of the 2026/2027 scheme has now passed. Applications remain open for larger scale projects under measures 2 and 3 of the scheme.

A breakdown of the funding allocated by scheme to County Laois since 2023 is set out at the following link.

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