Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021
373. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her proposals for the funding of projects nationwide through the LEADER programme in the forthcoming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61049/21]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched earlier this year.
Earlier this year I announced details of a €70 million Transitional LEADER Programme which came into effect in April and will cover the period 2021 and 2022. €65 million of this budget has been allocated to the LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This allocation covers both core project expenditure and the administration and animation costs of the LAGs.
A further €3 million of the funding has been allocated to support co-operation projects and innovation between LAGs, while the remaining €2 million has been allocated to provide preparatory support for the next LEADER programme.
€20 million of this transitional LEADER Programme is funded by the European Union Recovery Instrument, which will enable local communities and enterprises an opportunity to respond in a community-led local development manner to COVID-19.
I am confident that this level of funding will be sufficient to continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses until the end of 2022.
