Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
2089. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is considering a review of the amount of LEADER funding allocated to County Galway, with a view to increasing the allocation to bridge the shortfall in funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38164/23]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy.
€250m has been made available for the LEADER programme for the period 2021 to 2027. This is comprised of €70 million for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 and an additional €180 million from 2023 to 2027, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period.
County Galway has been allocated €12,628,253 in funding for the programming period 2021-2027 which is an increase of 3.55% over the previous seven-year period.
I am confident that the level of funding allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period is sufficient to meet the demand for grant funding from rural communities and businesses and to continue the effective operation of the LEADER programme.
It should also be noted that there have been substantial levels of additional investment in recent years in rural development by my Department through a range of schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Walks Scheme, and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
Since my recent announcement of the approval of the first two successful Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER programme my Department’s focus now is to complete the selection of the remaining LAGs to ensure a timely and smooth transition from the 2014-2020 programme.
