Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
814. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the plans in place for a rollover and transition funding for the 34 LEADER companies across the country whose contract ends on 31 December 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28673/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEADER is co-funded by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The current programming period concludes in December 2020.
Proposals for new regulations for the CAP 2021-2027 were launched in June 2018 by the European Commission. However, given the nature of the discussions on the CAP and the wider EU Budget post-2020, there has been a delay in adopting these proposals. This means that the next LEADER programme will not now commence until January 2022 at the earliest.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme. My Department is currently examining the best approach to deliver on this commitment.
The European Commission has also published proposals for transitional measures to allow for continuity between the programming periods. The Commission's Transitional Regulation is still under negotiation and there are still a number of issues to be resolved over the coming months, including the duration of the transitional period.
I hope to be in a positon to make decisions relating to the proposed transitional programme as committed to in the Programme for Government shortly, having regard, inter alia, to any arrangements that may be agreed at European level.
