First-round funding is to be provided for projects in rural areas as part of a rural regeneration and development fund.

Speaking in the Dáil, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue said: "I am allocating an additional €53m in capital next year to fund the first round of projects under the new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund."

The minister said the fund represented an unprecedented commitment by the Government to strengthen Ireland's rural economies and communities.

  • Amount: €53m.
  • A key commitment of Project Ireland 2040 is the provision of a new €1bn budget over the period 2019-2027 through a Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The first round of funding will see €53m provided to projects.