Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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34. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will extend the rural regeneration fund to purchase derelict buildings in urban towns with populations of less than 10,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26457/24]

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister extend the rural regeneration fund to purchase derelict buildings in urban towns with populations of less than 10,000, and will she make a statement on the matter?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The rural regeneration and development fund is a key measure to deliver on the objectives of the Government's rural development policy, Our Rural Future, by providing funding for the development and delivery of ambitious capital projects in rural Ireland. The projects funded under the rural regeneration and development fund are revitalising our rural towns and villages in line with the town centre first policy through planned and sustainable regeneration projects that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, help address vacancy and dereliction and ensure the reuse of heritage and other existing buildings. Towns, villages and rural areas with a population of less than 10,000 and outside metropolitan areas as defined by the national planning framework are eligible to apply for funding under the rural regeneration and development fund.

The urban regeneration and development fund, administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, provides funding for towns with a population of more than 10,000 and the five cities and their metropolitan areas. The third call under the urban regeneration and development fund, launched in 2023, provided funding to local authorities to purchase vacant and derelict buildings and sites.

My Department implements a range of capital investment schemes to support rural development. They are reviewed annually to ensure they are aligned with policy objectives.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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The Letterkenny cathedral quarter group is working hard on the ground to develop the quarter for the town’s community, tourism and employment, but its members do not believe it is fitting into any of the boxes that would help it get grants and other funding. The Department has provided funding under the rural regeneration fund to purchase derelict properties in rural towns, but there is no similar funding stream for large urban towns. My understanding and that of the group is that the only stream for urban areas is given to local authorities, not community groups.

Just across the Border, funding has been granted under the shared island programme for the purchase of derelict properties in the Fountain area of Derry on behalf of the New Gate Arts and Culture Centre. Will the Minister consider this funding stream or create a new one for groups like the one in Letterkenny? What that group is looking for does not fit into the urban scheme, with local authorities instead getting funding for local areas.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We continue to review all of our schemes to see how they can better fit what communities need. To be fair, of all counties, Donegal has received a lot from the rural regeneration development fund. I do not have the figure to hand, but areas right across the county have benefited significantly. The urban fund is specifically for large towns like Letterkenny. If I start distributing funding into larger towns, there will be less for the smaller towns. It is as simple as that.

I do not know the project in question. If the Deputy gives me the details, I will be happy to have my officials engage with the group. Perhaps the group could look for something under the new community fund, which I launched and has been allocated this year. We are happy to have a conversation with that community group.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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I would appreciate that. I have been engaging with the group in recent months. Its members are frustrated. They have been applying for different types of funding but their group has been unable to fit into the boxes they are looking towards. Although they are in a larger urban area, they are looking to the rural fund. Local authorities get funding for urban areas, but surely there should be some sort of scheme to meet their needs.

The Minister has engaged on many previous requests made of her, so I will revert to the group and suggest that we sit down, have a look at this and see if there is any other funding that the group can apply for or if there is a way of rejigging some of the existing schemes so that the group can fit into even one of those boxes.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am always happy to engage with community groups on trying to improve their communities. The group in question should speak to the local authority as well. The authority will have a great deal of information on particular funding. Sometimes, groups need to adjust what their projects are looking for slightly to match the schemes.