Minister Calleary Announces €20.5 Million for 30 Landmark Rural Regeneration Projects Nationwide
-
From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 10 October 2025
- Last updated on: 10 October 2025
- Multi-million-euro investment to bring ambitious rural regeneration and economic development projects to full readiness
- Strong focus on heritage, tourism and enterprise projects to increase economic activity
- Plans will combat dereliction, increase the vibrancy of our towns and villages
- Projects will include the transformation of heritage buildings, former cinemas, courthouses and vacant buildings into creative studios, visitor centres, museums, libraries and community spaces
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (10th October 2025) announced funding of over €20.5 million for 30 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country.
The funding, under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), is being invested in projects that will rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth, increase town footfall, combat dereliction, develop pedestrian zones and boost tourism in rural Ireland.
The announcement was made by the Minister today at the official opening of the Shackleton Experience in Athy. The museum, funded under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund, is dedicated to the extraordinary life of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, who was born just outside Athy.
Examples of projects which have received funding approval include:
- €971,000 for the regeneration of Roscrea including a multi-use community facility public realm enhancements in the town centre
- €780,000 for Moate town centre enhancement including public realm works will include improved parking, provision of universal access, streetscape enhancement and landscaping.
- €1,000,000 to develop Rosslare Sustainable Tourism Experience to develop the inter-connection between Rosslare Harbour and Rosslare Strand, a new civic and recreation plaza for Rosslare Harbour and other public realm works.€870,000 for the ‘Swinford Urban Realm Project’ to facilitate development of a new public space for town markets and local festivals.
- €772,000 to develop a conservation management plan and business case to refurbish ‘The Old Steam Mill’ in Skibbereen as a famine story and exhibition centre.
- €558,000 to for ‘Rosses Point Community Boat Park’ in Sligo to help develop Sligo’s tourism, recreational and maritime industries.
A full list of the successful projects is available on gov.ie: here.
Announcing the funding for the 30 projects, Minister Calleary said:
“I am delighted to announce the successful projects selected from applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. This €1 billion Fund was established under Project Ireland 2040 to deliver the targeted investment necessary to ensure that rural Ireland continues to grow and prosper and deliver on balanced regional growth that is in everyone’s interests.”
The Minister continued.
“In 2025, we continue to roll-out unprecedented levels of investment in rural Ireland – making our towns and villages better places to live, work, raise a family and run a business. Today’s announcement confirms our strong commitment to supporting our rural communities both economically and socially.
“The projects being invested in today represent the huge ambition that underpins ‘Our Rural Future’ and will have a truly transformational impact right across the country. When complete, these projects will leave a lasting difference on these locations for generations to come, benefitting tens of thousands of families in Rural Ireland.”
The Minister concluded.
“We have had a phenomenal level of interest in the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, with applications of an excellent standard, and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all those who were successful.
“For those who have been unsuccessful, my department will provide feedback to enable them to prepare for the next call”.
The successful projects announced today are for RRDF Category 2 Projects. ‘Category 2’ RRDF projects are intended to provide funding to allow Project Leads undertake and complete the initial planning, design and technical works required to of any large-scale project. This sees potential, large scale RRDF projects developed to a stage allowing for greater certainty regarding scope, cost and delivery timelines to apply for further funding under a ‘Category 1’ RRDF application.
Notes
Rural Development Investment Programme
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s Rural Development Investment Programme includes a number of integrated funding interventions:
- Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)
- Town and Village Renewal Scheme
- CLÁR
- Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme
- Local Improvement Scheme
- LEADER
- Walks Scheme
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established to deliver on the National Strategic Objective in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities and is also calibrated to deliver on the objectives of Our Rural Future, the Government’s 5-year strategy for rural development. The Fund is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The Fund provides investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories. Category 1 relates to projects with all necessary planning and consents in place and are ready to proceed, while Category 2 relates to projects that require further development and enabling initiatives to become ready for Category 1 status.
The successful projects being announced today relate to Category 2.
To date, the Fund has provided €593 million for 243 projects across Ireland, for projects costing a total of €791 million.
Full details of are available here.