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A total of 27 landmark regeneration projects in rural Ireland have taken a major step forward with new investment.
Funding of €21.5 million has been announced to support those projects under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF).
Among the successful applications are Edenderry's Regeneration Phase Two in Co Offaly and Dungarvan Digital Transformation Hub in Waterford. Each project will help rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth and footfall, combat dereliction, develop pedestrian zones and outdoor spaces and boost tourism in Rural Ireland.
A number of the projects approved for funding involve the re-purposing of old, derelict and historical buildings into modern-day remote working hubs, as well as enterprise, cultural and community facilities.
Announcing the funding, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD said: "In 2022, we will continue to roll-out unprecedented levels of investment in Rural Ireland – making our towns and villages even better places to live, work, raise a family and run a business. Today's announcement is proof of our strong commitment to supporting our rural communities both economically and socially. The projects being invested in 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 successful projects will now move through the development stage and to the point where they are ready to commence works.
Minister Humphreys added: "The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, along with the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Fund, is delivering unprecedented levels of investment to rural communities. This Fund alone has now delivered €277 million in funding for 191 projects worth a total of €374 million. I'm particularly pleased to see that so many projects being supported today will provide remote working opportunities for tens of thousands of people. Remote Working is the now very much part of the fabric of Rural Ireland due to Covid-19. By continuing to invest in remote working facilities - by turning old, run-down buildings into digital hubs, we will ensure more of our young people can work and live in their own community."
