Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 September 2022
166. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on plans to establish exclusively independent community-led Leader groups, as committed to in the Programme for Government. [46166/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to the LEADER Programme, many of which have already been implemented by my Department.
The new CAP Strategic Plan, which includes the LEADER programme, was recently approved by the EU Commission.
The details of the delivery model for the new LEADER programme are based on extensive consultation with stakeholders in relation to all aspects of the programme including the LAG structure.
The process of selecting a LEADER group for the new programme will be open, transparent and competitive. Central to the formation of the Group will be a clear partnership approach, with public and private interest groups coming together to deliver the programme.
Groups who wish to apply to implement LEADER will also be required to clearly demonstrate strategic direction and coherence with existing EU, regional and national rural development policies such as Local Economic and Community Plans, as well as demonstrating their connection to communities and the bottom up approach, and the financial capacity to deliver the programme to a high governance standard.
The open selection process for this round of LEADER does not prescribe a delivery model and it is open to any group to apply to become a LEADER group once they can satisfy the core elements of the selection process.
This overall approach has been developed to ensure both coherence with the principles of the LEADER model and conformity with the relevant EU regulations. All LAGs selected will be independent of my Department in carrying out their functions.
I expect to be in a position to announce the commencement of a two stage selection process for the new LEADER programme in the coming weeks, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with stakeholders to ensure we can build on the success of the LEADER programme over the last 30 years.
