Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and several Government Ministers today launched a €4 billion Project Ireland 2040 funds for rural development, urban regeneration, climate action and innovation.

The four new funds are designed to help to ensure balanced regional development and aim to stimulate renewal and investment in rural and urban areas, the environment and innovation, preparing Ireland for a future with 1 million more people and 660,000 more people at work.

The plan is targeting three quarters of new growth outside Dublin, with 50% of the projected population growth planned for towns, villages and rural areas and 50% for cities.

Speaking about the launch of the four funds today, An Taoiseach said, "Three months ago we laid the foundations for the future with the launch of Project Ireland 2040. Today we are outlining how we plan to build on those foundations, through these four game-changing funds. The funds aim to regenerate our urban areas so we can have compact, sustainable growth in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban centres; develop rural Ireland so that prosperity is shared across the whole country; prepare for the greatest challenge facing the planet by acting decisively to protect it; and transform our society through the use of disruptive technologies and, in doing so, create the jobs of the future."

Source: www.businessworld.ie