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The Minister of State Seán Kyne welcomes funding for Gaeltacht proposals under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Seán Kyne, TD, Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands cordially welcomes the announcement made by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, T.D., that capital funding of €1.06m will be made available for Údarás na Gaeltachta proposals in Gaeltacht areas in Kerry and Cork.

The funding has been approved under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for the following four successful proposals made by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

  • €415,000 has been approved for the preparation of a masterplan for the redevelopment of the old Dingle hospital in Dingle, Co. Kerry as an Innovation Centre, a Customer Experience Centre and as Creative and Learning Spaces along with being an exemplary building with regard to energy efficiency.
  • €292,500 to support design for the development of a series of new community, sport and educational facilities in Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry. 
  • €174,351 has been approved for the development of recognised proposals in Iveragh Action Plan in South Kerry that was developed by action in the National Action Plan for Rural Development; The funding will support the functioning of the plan in which the employment of a Project Manager will be central to the development of recognised proposals.
  • €180,000 has been approved for the development of a masterplan for the Campus of Coláiste Íosagáin in Ballyvourney, Co. Cork which will lay out the economic, planning and environmental case for the building and the surrounding lands.

While welcoming this funding, the Minister of State stated, “I’m sure that this funding will assist the Údarás to promote and develop these strategic community, enterprise and language proposals.  I particularly welcome the support that has been committed, that will build upon the support of the Údarás, for the functioning of the Iveragh Taskforce’s Action Plan. I would also like to add that this funding provision to Údarás na Gaeltachta is in addition to the increased provision of €9.7m that was provided to the organisation for the year 2019”.