Service
Rural Funding
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
There are several different funds available for rural areas. Here is a brief description of each as well as links to the individual services and how to apply for them.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a commitment of €1 billion by government to be invested in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund can fund projects including (but not limited to):
- infrastructure that may be needed to support town centre housing and/or commercial development
- measures to address building vacancy including building refurbishment, redevelopment and/or demolition
- the development of community or public facilities infrastructure including improvements to roads, bridges and car parking facilities
- infrastructure that improves telecommunications connectivity
- projects that support job creation, entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas (for example: development of Digital Hubs, Enterprise Hubs, Creative Hubs, or training facilities)
- enhancement of heritage and/or other community assets including the provision/enhancement of recreational or leisure facilities.
The fund will focus on all settlements and rural areas with fewer than 10,000 people which are located outside the five city metropolitan areas.
Rural towns with a population of over 10,000 people are eligible to apply for funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.
A maximum of 80% funding will be considered where community contributions form a significant element of the match-funding.
The Third Call for Category 2 applications is now closed.
For more information please see the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund information page
The CLÁR-Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline.
2021 CLÁR Measures
The 2021 programme is now open for applications. Full details of the scheme will be issued to Local Authorities and other relevant organisations shortly.
The measures being funded under the 2021 CLÁR programme are:
- Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
- Measure 2: Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities
- Measure 3:Community Wellbeing Measure:
a) Community Gardens and Allotments
b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport
- CLÁR Innovation Measure
For further queries please contact CLAR@drcd.gov.ie .
CLÁR Innovation Measure
The new CLÁR Innovation Measure is targeted at piloting new ideas which address specific challenges faced by communities in CLÁR areas, including those associated with rural isolation, village decline, service accessibility, population change, social disadvantage and marginalisation in communities within the CLÁR areas. This Measure seeks to support fresh ideas and new ways of working that might not otherwise be identified or supported.
The central aim of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is to support the revitalisation of towns and villages, to improve the living and working environment of their communities, and increase their potential to support increased economic activity into the future.
Projects which receive funding will:
- increase the attractiveness of the town or village as a local commercial and social centre, and as a result increase its sustainability as a place in which to live and work
- enhance the town or village's environment and amenities in the interests of residents, businesses, and visitors
- promote the town or village’s potential for tourism and as a centre for culture and local heritage, thus enhancing the sense of identity
The type of projects to be funded under this scheme is primarily a matter for the local authorities to identify in partnership with local business and communities.
Should you have any queries in relation to the scheme please submit them by email to: townandvillage@drcd.gov.ie
The LEADER programme accepts applications based on projects which improve:
- rural tourism
- enterprise development
- broadband
- basic services targeted at hard-to-reach communities
- rural youth
- protection and sustainable use of water resources
- local biodiversity
- renewable energy
The LEADER programme is administered at a local level by 29 local action groups, which contain local representatives from the community, public and private sector. Each group is responsible for selecting and awarding LEADER funding to projects within their geographical area.
A project must be aligned with the priorities of the local development strategy. The total funding available under the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme is €250 million.
To apply for funding for your LEADER project, please contact your nearest local action group.
For more information on LEADER, go to the following page: LEADER Rural Development
The Local Road Improvements Funding (LIS) provides funding to help local authorities carry out improvement works on private and non-publicly maintained roads.
These roads can often lead to
- multiple homes
- farmland
- amenities such as lakes, rivers or beaches
If you have or know a road in need of repair that's not maintained, then contact your local authority to see if LIS funding would be available.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure. It also provides support for the necessary repair, maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas across Ireland.
The Connected Hubs Fund will expand existing hub facilities, providing additional hot desks, office spaces and meeting rooms for remote working.
The funding will be used to install electric car charging points, upgrade disability access and improve IT facilities located within hubs or Broadband Connection Points (BCPs).
It will also assist in making existing hubs more compliant with social distancing guidelines.
