Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2022
46. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if local action group status will be returned to local development companies as committed to in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8777/22]
View answerLEADER is a multi-annual programme for rural development co-funded by the EU through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.
The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to the LEADER Programme, including commitments to deliver a Rural Development Programme that is led by independent Local Action Groups and supported by Local Community Development Committees and to promote the role of independent Local Action Groups (LAGs), while ensuring that strong accountability and transparency mechanisms are in place to protect taxpayers’ money.
The preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme are underway. This includes ongoing engagement by my officials with relevant stakeholders.
Decisions in relation to the delivery model for the new LEADER programme will have regard to the provisions of the EU Regulations governing the structure of future Local Action Groups, the commitments in the Programme for Government and the outcome of consultations with all relevant stakeholder groups.
