Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1996. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated full-year cost of establishing an island-specific local action group and allocating the maximum monthly LEADER funding to the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28949/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It is a multi-annual programme for rural development co-funded by the EU through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.
Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are well underway and there is ongoing engagement between my officials, colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the EU Commission with a view to obtaining approval for the CAP Strategic Plan as a matter of priority.
€250m has been made available for LEADER for the period 2021 to 2027. This is comprised of €70 million for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 which came into effect on 1 April 2021 and an additional €180 million from 2023 to 2027. This level of funding is evidence of the Government’s continued support for the LEADER programme.
The question of funding allocations and administrative structures for the delivery of the programme, including those relating to the islands, will be considered as part of that work, having regard to the provisions of the EU Regulations governing the structure of future Local Action Groups.
