Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2022
51. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the anticipated changes that will be made to the level of funding for LEADER programme 2023-2027; the impact of same on County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8778/22]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.
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.
An indicative budget of €180 million is allocated for the LEADER Programme for the period 2023-2027. With the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period.
My officials are continuing to engage with key stakeholders in relation to the new LEADER Programme. Decisions relating to all aspects of the programme including the distribution of funding, will form part of the new programme design phase which is currently underway in my Department.
It is also of note that recent years have seen record levels of investment in rural development initiatives and schemes. A range of schemes have been implemented in recent years, such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Walks Scheme, and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
Budget 2022 also saw increases secured across all my Department's rural schemes and the National Development Plan (NDP) outlines a clear commitment to a continuation of investment in Rural Ireland as a matter of priority. Capital funding allocations for my Department have seen an increase from €88m in 2018 to €205m in 2025 under the NDP.
This level of funding, combined with the LEADER indicative allocation for 2023-2027, will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses and will help to deliver on the range of actions for our rural communities into the future as set out in the Rural Development Policy - Our Rural Future.
