Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
1265. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the funding allocation for Leader for 2023-2027 will be confirmed given the recent announcement under Pillar II of the Common Agricultural Fund of €180 million for Leader from 2023 is an indicative allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53148/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way the indicative allocation of €250 million for Leader from 2023-2027 under Pillar II of the Common Agricultural Policy compares with previous periods; if the indicated allocation is taken as correct, if Leader funding has increased for the period 2023-2027 in comparison with the 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 periods and transition programme period of 2021-2023 respectively; if she will provide the data on Leader allocations for each period in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53150/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1265 and 1267 together.
The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future.
The programme is co-funded by the EU under Pillar II the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is Ireland's Managing Authority for the CAP and thus has lead responsibility for negotiations of the new CAP which is to be introduced from 2023.
An indicative allocation of €180 million has been made to the LEADER Programme for the 2023-2027 period as part of the new CAP Strategic Plan. In conjunction with the funding of €70 million for the LEADER Transitional Programme announced earlier this year, this indicative allocation will result in total funding of €250 million being made available for LEADER over the period 2021 – 2027. This allocation maintains the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. Table 1 below gives a breakdown on the LEADER allocations for the periods as requested by the Deputy. It should be noted that the original allocations for LEADER in the 2007-2013 period were revised on foot of the agreement with the EU Commission of a formal amendment to the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme - both allocations are included in the table below.
A draft of the CSP is due to be submitted by DAFM to the European Commission early 2022, and a formal negotiation and agreement process will then commence on all elements of the CSP, including the financial allocations across all the proposed schemes contained in the CSP. As this process develops, consultation with stakeholders will continue.
Table 1: LEADER Programme Allocations
|
Programming Period |
Allocation |
|
2007-2013 (Original) |
€399,999,998 |
|
2007-2013 (Revised) |
€376,758,090 |
|
2014-2020 |
€250,000,000 |
|
2021-2022 (Transitional) |
€ 70,000,000 |
|
2023-2027 |
€180,000,000 |
