Urban & Rural Regeneration & Development Funds

At the beginning of July the Government launched 2 New Multi-Annual programmes as part of Project Ireland 2040. These were;

  • The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF)
  • The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)

Both funds will operate annual funding calls, the closing date for this year’s calls was September 27th for the RRDF and September 28th for the URDF.

New Projects and any application that does not get awarded funding under this year’s call, will be eligible to submit an application in Summer 2019.

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF)

The URDF has been established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns (Population greater than 10,000), in line with the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan.

The objective of the new fund is to enable a greater proportion of housing and commercial development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and towns and to ensure that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.

The value of the URDF is €2 billion for the next ten years, with €100 million available for expenditure in 2019.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)

The RRDF has been established to support the revitalisation of rural communities, to make a significant and sustainable impact on them, and to address de-population in small rural towns, villages and rural areas. It is to be a key instrument in supporting the objectives of the National Planning Framework, and in achieving Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities – one of the National Strategic Outcomes of the NPF.

The Fund provides investment to support rural renewal for suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas.

The value of the RRDF is €1 billion for the next ten years, with €100 million available for expenditure in 2019.

Both Funds invited applications under two categories:

Category 1/A: “Ready-to-Go”
Proposals, or initial phases of projects which can be commenced in 2019, which have the necessary consents (e.g. planning) in place, are at an advanced stage of design, are in a position to satisfy value-for-money requirements in accordance with the Public Spending Code, and are procurement-ready.

 Category 2/B: “Work Needed”
Proposals that have clear potential and quantifiable objectives but require further development to enable them to be potentially submitted as Category 1 proposals in subsequent funding calls.

Note the URDF refers to the 2 categories as A & B, while the RRDF refers to the 2 categories as 1 & 2.

Under the URDF Cork County Council has submitted 8 Category A & 10 Category B applications.

Under the RRDF Cork County Council has submitted 11 Category 1 & 37 Category 2 applications.

Please find attached a brief breakdown of the applications submitted.

Further details on both schemes may be found at

URDF    https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/urban-regeneration-and-development-fund/

RRDF     https://drcd.gov.ie/about/rural/rural-regeneration-development-fund/

Le meas,

Jim Molloy
Stiúrthóir Serbhísí/I (S/Director of Services)
Oibríochtaí Ceantair Bardasacha & Forbairt Tuaithe (Municipal District Operations & Rural Development)
Comhairle Contae Chorcaí (Cork County Council)
+353-21-4285954