Údarás na Gaeltachta welcomes €1.06M funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for projects in the Kerry and Cork Gaeltacht

Údarás na Gaeltachta has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring T.D. that funding in excess of €1.06m has been announced for Údarás na Gaeltachta projects in the Cork and Kerry Gaeltacht.

The funding is approved at a support level of 75% under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund with 25% funding from Údarás na Gaeltachta for four successful applications as follows:

• €415,000 approved to develop a masterplan for the redevelopment of the former Dingle Work House, a historic property which is currently disused, as an Innovation Hub, Tourist Experience, Creative/Maker & Learning Space and an exemplar of energy efficiency standards.
• €292,500 approved to support the design and development of a range of new community, sporting and educational facilities and taking this from concept stage to procurement stage on a state-owned site in Baile na Fheirtéaraigh, Co. Kerry.
• €174,351 approved for the development of projects identified in the Action Plan for Uíbh Ráthach in South Kerry that was developed as an action under the National Action Plan for Rural Development. The funding will support the implementation of the plan, central to which is the employment of a Project Manager for recognised projects.
• €180,000 approved to develop a masterplan for the Coláiste Íosagáin campus in Baile Bhuirne, Co. Cork outlining the economic, planning and environmental case for the building and surrounding grounds.

The funding has been approved for project applications made by Údarás na Gaeltachta as lead partner in association with various stakeholders under Category 2 of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Projects relating to category 2 are assessed as having clear potential and quantifiable objectives but require further development to enable future development and funding.

Micheál Ó hÉanaigh, Údarás na Gaeltachta CEO, said “We would like to welcome this capital funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development for the completion of these important rural projects. These projects will add to Údarás na Gaeltachta’s capacity to proceed with studies, design, assessments and planning for the strategic community, enterprise and language projects in Baile Bhuirne, Daingean Uí Chúis and Baile an Fheirtéirigh. We especially welcome funding approval that will add to the support being provided by Údarás na Gaeltachta to implement the Uíbh Ráthach Taskforce Action Plan. State agencies and the community itself have worked diligently to prepare the Plan and the employment of a Project Manager will set its implementation off to a good start. The provision of this funding will enable us to further advance important aspects of our 2018 – 2020 Strategic Plan and also the 5-year Action Plan for the Irish language, which contains challenging and ambitious objectives for the development of the Gaeltacht, in order to increase job creation in these areas.”