Service
Rural Funding
From Department of Rural and Community Development
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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.
Eligibility
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.
How to apply
The Fourth Call for Category 1 applications is now closed.
For more information please see the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund information page
CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd Riachtanais) or Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects 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.
The 2023 CLÁR Scheme is now open.
The Measures being funded under the 2023 CLÁR Programme are:
Measure 1 : Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
Measure 2 : Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
Measure 3 : “Our Islands”
Measure 1
Applications will only be accepted directly from Local Authorities under Measure 1. Please contact your Local Authority for an application form and further information.
Measures 2 and 3
Applications are being accepted directly by the Department in respect of Measures 2 and 3 via email to CLAR@drcd.gov.ie Scheme Outlines and Application Forms in respect of these measures can be accessed below.
The deadline for receipt of applications under Measures 1 and 3 is Tuesday 6th June 2023.
The deadline for receipt of applications under Measure 2 is Friday 12th May 2023.
For further queries please contact CLAR@drcd.gov.ie
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.
The priorities of the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme include:
- Projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces.
- Projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs. This includes funding for the repurposing of existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working.
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
What the LEADER programme for Rural Development is
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
What Local Road Improvement is
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.
