Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again for raising this important issue. I join him in recognising the value of the work LEADER companies and their staff have done over the years. That work has made a huge difference to rural and urban life in our country. The LEADER programme continues to play an important role in the development and enhancement of rural areas by providing critical funding to rural economies and supporting rural communities to continue to develop their own local-led, bottom-up, tailored and place-based approach to development. I compliment the LAGs and implementation partners on their ongoing work in delivering the LEADER programme, helping communities to develop projects and supporting businesses to set up and expand.

The LEADER programme has remained operational throughout the Covid-19 crisis and payments have continued to be made to the LAGs, their implementation partners and project promoters. At the outset of the pandemic, a number of administrative flexibilities were introduced to support them. As I said, the total allocation for the programme next year is €44 million. This allocation will be used to fund existing projects as they come to completion and submit payment claims. It will also fund new projects that are reapproved under the transitional programme and support the administrative costs of LAGs in closing out the existing programme and delivering the transitional programme. The Minister hopes to be in a position shortly to announce the details of this programme, which will come into effect in 2021.

I am happy to convey the Deputy's views and questions on this very important issue to the Minister.

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