The Leader element of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to rural communities over the next 5 - 6 years. Ireland is reconfiguring the way in which local and rural development interventions are implemented. This is in line with Government policy to ensure that local government is well positioned to support the effective and efficient delivery of local and rural development. A total of €220 million of the overall programme complement of €250m has been allocated based on administrative or county boundaries to 28 sub-regional areas.
In determining the county allocations, three objective criteria were used, namely, minimum allocation, population density and a Resource Allocation Model (RAM). Each county was given a minimum allocation of €3 million to ensure that each received a viable level of funding. However, Cork County was allocated €6 million as a minimum as the overall population outside of the city is almost twice that of any other county.
In relation to the 2014-2020 Programme, I am satisfied that the allocations are fair. Cork has been allocated almost €14 million which is the highest allocation nationally and is almost €5.5 million or 60% greater than the average county allocation.
