Claire Kerrane
Ceist:109. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the LEADER Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53709/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 27 October 2022
Ceisteanna (109)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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.
€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 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, and matches the €250m provided for LEADER in the corresponding 7 year period from 2014-2020.
To date some, 5,500 projects have been approved for funding of over €232 million. Payments of almost €157 million have been made in respect of these projects.
I am happy to confirm that the Expression of Interest stage to select the Groups to deliver the next LEADER programme is now open. The allocations for each LEADER area have also been announced as part of this process.
The process of selecting the LEADER groups will be open, transparent and competitive. Central to the formation of the Groups will be a clear partnership approach, with public and private interest groups coming together to deliver the programme in rural communities all across Ireland.
Full details of the selection process and the funding allocation to each county is available on my Department’s website. It is now important that the key public and private stakeholders in communities across Ireland come together in partnership to deliver the new LEADER programme.
I look forward to the implementation of the new LEADER programme and to ensuring that LEADER can continue to deliver real benefits to rural communities across Ireland including our island communities.