Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
815. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects a new LEADER programme to be in place, particularly in respect of the 34 LEADER companies across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28674/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra816. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the same format will be kept in place for the next programme of Leader, particularly with regard to the 34 Leader companies across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28675/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 815 and 816 together.
LEADER 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 on 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.
Once there is agreement at European level regarding the regulations for the next CAP period, decisions will be taken in relation to the delivery of the next LEADER Programme having regard to, inter alia, the provisions of the EU Regulations governing the structure of future Local Action Groups and the outcome of consultations with all relevant stakeholder groups.
In the meantime, 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 and I hope to be in a positon to make a decision on this matter shortly.
