Minister McHugh welcomes €300,000 in funding for Donegal under the 2016 REDZ initiative

Fine Gael Minister of State Joe McHugh has welcomed confirmation of €300,000 in funding for Donegal under the 2016 REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones).

The funding is being made available by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD. The REDZ scheme aims to stimulate economic development in rural towns and their hinterlands.

“This is the latest in a series of funding schemes which have been announced by the Government which aims to boost economic activity and improve living standards here in Donegal and across rural Ireland.  

“Under the 2016 REDZ scheme, just over €5.3 million is being approved to 41 projects nationwide, with €1.9 million going to projects in the North and Western Region, €1.3 million for projects in the Southern Region and €2.1 million for projects in the Eastern and Midlands Region.

“The REDZ scheme aims to improve links between rural towns and their hinterlands to stimulate activity at a local level. This initiative encourages Local Authorities to work with local communities, business interests and other State bodies, to identify areas of greatest economic need which can make better use of their local assets to generate economic activity.

“The REDZ programme is one of a number of schemes which will help to support regeneration in rural towns and villages. Funding has previously been provided to towns and villages across Donegal under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Both schemes will work in a complementary way to ensure that all rural areas have strong economic and social centres, which support a higher quality of life for both town dwellers and those who live in the rural hinterlands.

“Fine Gael in Government is committed to ensuring that people living and working in rural Ireland feel the benefits as the economy continues to recover. I would like to commend Minister Humphreys and her colleague Minister of State for Regional Development, Michael Ring TD, for the range of initiatives they have announced to date aimed at supporting rural communities.

“Minister Humphreys will be publishing the first ever Action Plan for Rural Development in the coming weeks, which will be a cross government approach to supporting rural communities and stimulating regional development.”

 ENDS