Claire Kerrane
Ceist:894. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated full-year cost of increasing Leader funding by 10%. [20026/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 30 July 2020
Ceisteanna (894)
Freagraí scríofa
LEADER is a multi-annual EU programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the 7 year programming period 2014-2020. Approximately 63% of the total budget is refundable from the European Commission on the basis of expenditure incurred.
€225 million of the available funding has been allocated to the 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver LEADER throughout the country. This funding is utilised by the LAGs under the following categories:
- Preparatory Support costs incurred to develop Local Development Strategies in each LEADER region at the outset of the programme
- LAG Administration costs and costs incurred in supporting the development of LEADER projects
- Project specific funding, which constitutes the largest portion of the funding available.
A further €25 million in funding is available for thematic schemes delivered at a national level which is allocated centrally as projects are approved.
Activity under the LEADER programme fluctuates on a year-to-year basis depending on the demand for funding, the level of project approvals made by the LAGs, and the stage of the programme’s lifecycle.
There are, therefore, a number of different components to the LEADER funding which have a greater or lesser emphasis at different points during the 7 year programming period.
However, an increase of 10% to the overall budget of €250 million available for the current LEADER programme would equate to €25 million over the 7 year programming period, or approximately €3.5 million on average annually.