Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2021
236. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of the new Leader programme for the period 2023-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50163/21]
View answerThe LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future.
The negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regulations were provisionally agreed at the Council of Ministers Meeting on 28/29 June. Technical discussions to finalise the legal text are currently taking place under the Slovenian Presidency.
The programme is co-funded by the EU under Pillar II the CAP. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is Ireland's Managing Authority for the CAP and thus has lead responsibility for negotiations of the new CAP which is to be introduced from 2023. My officials are engaging extensively with both DAFM and the EU Commission on the new LEADER programme to form part of the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) .
Over the past number of months, officials in my Department have been engaging with stakeholders regarding the design of the next LEADER Programme. This consultation will continue as the process of agreeing the new CAP Strategic Plan with the EU Commission develops.
I recently initiated an external review of the current LEADER programme and the outcome of this review will help to inform the design of the new LEADER programme. I expect to receive a report in this regard in the coming weeks.
In addition, and in conjunction with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a further public consultation on the draft CSP interventions, which includes LEADER, will be undertaken later this year.
My officials continue to work towards the development of the LEADER element of the new CSP with a view to submitting this to the EU Commission for approval in 2022 along with all the other element of the plan. My Department will continue to consult with all stakeholders as part of this process.
