From Department of Rural and Community Development
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Mr Michael Ring TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development , today visited projects in County Clare which were supported by his Department.
He turned the sod on the Clare County Library, which has been approved for €4m funding under the Libraries Capital Programme. Also while in Clare, the Minister opened the Ennistymon Digital Hub which has received €1,023,000 under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. He also visited Cnoc na Gaoithe Cultural Centre in Tulla, which received funding of €900,000 under the same programme. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provided funding of €49,500 for upgrades to the Clarecastle People’s Park which was also opened by the Minister today.
Investment in Clare from the Department of Rural and Community Development has increased threefold since 2017, with over €15m being allocated in 2019. The Minister has approved over €9m of funding to support projects in Clare under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Speaking today Minister Ring said :
“I am delighted to turn the sod for this state of-the-art library on the site of the Glór theatre in Ennis. This will integrate a number of cultural services on one site creating a unique cultural hub in the town. Last year I launched our new Public Libraries Strategy which aims to improve access, use and visibility of the public library as an essential community resource. It focuses on developing high-quality library buildings, services and technological capacity. The vision and plans for this facility are fantastic, and I acknowledge the role of Clare County Council Staff in providing what I expect will be a flagship library when it is complete.”
Minister Ring added :
“The €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), administered by my Department, is a key part of Project Ireland 2040. It seeks to support strategic, large-scale projects which have the potential to drive economic and social progress in rural Ireland.
“The Ennistymon Digital Hub and Multi Service Centre, led by Clare County Council, was one of the first project funded under the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, a key part of Project Ireland 2040. I was delighted to have been in a position for allocate €1,023,300 from the Fund to complete this project
“The Tulla Multifunctional Performance Auditorium was awarded €900,000 in funding from the RRDF. It is a regeneration project that will restore the former Mercy Convent School building in the centre of Tulla and develop a multi-functional performance space and auditorium that will enhance and support the town’s rich music and cultural heritage.”
The Minister continued :
“The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for improvement work which enable citizens to get out and enjoy their surroundings. I was delighted to provide the funding of almost €50,000 to the Clarecastle People’s Park which has provided upgrades to the walkways and boardwalk. Clarecastle has also received €100,000 funding under the Town and Village Scheme to improve the streetscape in the village.
“It was great to visit Clare today, to see first-hand the impact funding provided by my Department has on rural Ireland.”
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Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. It includes a detailed capital investment plan for the next ten years, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027, and the National Planning Framework which outlines the broader policy principles and priorities in planning for future population and economic growth to 2040.
Project Ireland 2040 established four new capital funds:
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established to deliver on the objective in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities and will be rolled out over a 10-year period. The Fund is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The Fund will provide investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas which will deliver on the aims of Project Ireland 2040 and achieve sustainable economic and social development in these areas. Initial funding of €315 million has been allocated to the fund on a phased basis over the period 2019 to 2022
Under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, funding of €148 million was announced for projects to date.
€1,023,000: Ennistymon Innovation Centre
€900,000: Cnoc na Gaoithe Cultural Centre, Tulla
€920,500: Fáilte Ireland Wild Atlantic Way
€920,000: Inis Cealtra Island
€465,571: Doolin Pier
€2,860,000: Lahinch Seaworld and Town
€1,720,000: Vandeleur Estate, Kilrush
€868,500: Loop Head Visitor Attraction
€182,786: Burren Lowlands CLG (Galway/Clare)
The lists of projects already announced can be found at:
First announcement: https://assets.gov.ie/3235/231118125436-d956244f25c94c9484990fb37bf96c36.pdf
Second announcement: https://assets.gov.ie/6885/295393aa4bbb4298b56800ebf1d2f41c.pdf
The second call for applications to the Fund for Category 1 proposals (projects which are fully planning and consent ready) was launched in April 2019 and closed on 6 August 2019. The list of is available at https://assets.gov.ie/39702/c598e848c6554a459e506d009c3ed72a.pdf .
The second call for Category 2 applications (projects requiring further development in order to be ready for Category 1) issued earlier this month.
The 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provided funding under 3 separate measures:
Measure 1: Small maintenance/promotion of existing infrastructure (maximum grant €20,000)
Measure 2: Medium scale repair/upgrade and development of new small/medium infrastructure (grant of between €20,000 and €200,000)
Measure 3: Repair/upgrade and development of larger more strategic projects (grant of between €200,000 and €500,000).
The new public library strategy, Our Public Libraries 2022 – Inspiring, Connecting and Empowering Communities, was launched in 2018. The strategy seeks to improve access, use and visibility of the library as a community hub and develop it as a focal point for community development.
The strategy has three Strategic Programmes that reflect the core functions of the public library service –
Reading and Literacy,
Information and Learning, and
Community and Culture.
The Strategic Programmes are underpinned by Strategy Enablers critical to successful delivery of the strategy which include, among other things, infrastructure and services with a focus on fit-for-purpose buildings, appropriate opening hours and access, and ICT capacity.
The Department’s Libraries Capital Programme is approx. €29m and supports a total of 19 projects.