9. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on current rural regeneration and development fund projects in Cork county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22797/26]

Sentiment score: 0.01

I thank the Minister. It is great to see that more than €43 million has been invested in 27 projects across County Cork to date since 2018 when the RRDF came into existence. There have been many in my area, as the Minister of State outlined. The first one was the Kanturk relief road, which was funded many years ago in 2018 and 2019 and has provided a great opportunity for the town to enhance. It has allowed the new national school to open up and has allowed the lands across the relief road to open up to development. It has made a huge difference to the mart, which is located on that road. Likewise, in Ballydesmond in north Cork there is a fantastic public realm project and a pocket park being opened for the community. It was great to see former Deputy, Heather Humphreys there when she was Minister to officially open it. We look forward to the Minister, with the Minister of State, visiting many projects across Cork North West and the Cork county in the coming years. It is also important to outline that category 1 proposals are also coming up and there is no doubt projects will emerge from north Cork and Cork North West during that time.

Sentiment score: 0.34

It is great to see collaboration between the Minister's Department and Cork County Council and an acknowledgement that we are hungry for more. We will always accept more money when it is available. I am sure there will be applications for the category 1 call. I am sure the 17 active projects under way in Cork county will be completed as quickly as possible. I will mention one, which is the Charleville RRDF project. Over €6 million was allocated for that project and it is finally coming to the stage where we are starting the first phase of that shortly. I look forward to the Minister's continued engagement with his Department, Cork County Council and me as a public representative from that area to push that project forward. It is in a number of phases. There is a town centre refurbishment. There is public realm. There is allocation of public toilets and there is also a redevelopment of the courthouse in Charleville. It is a wonderful project for the town and the highest ever allocation for a town like Charleville to get €6 million from Government for community investment. We appreciate it and look forward to welcoming the Minister and the Minister of State when that project is in train.

Sentiment score: 0.30

With the indulgence of the House, we will go back to Question No. 7.

Sentiment score: -0.15