Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some €70 million has been allocated to the transitional programme for LEADER for 2021-22. This transitional funding is in place due to delays at EU level in agreeing the new regulations for the CAP period running to 2027 and it has been ensured there is no gap in LEADER funding or provision due to the delay in agreeing the new CAP. An additional indicative indication of €180 million for LEADER has recently been announced, bringing the total allocation for 2021 to 2027 to €250 million. The Department of Rural and Community Development continues to invest heavily in rural Ireland and rural development and it is important we acknowledge that rural programmes are funded from many different schemes. LEADER is one, a very important one, but just one of those schemes. The budget for 2022 sees an increase in funding for rural development in the round, with some €200 million in funding being allocated to the Department's programmes. These include town and village renewal, CLÁR, ARAS, LEADER, the walks scheme and of course, the rural development fund. Under the national development plan, Project Ireland 2040, capital funding for the Department will be almost €600 million for the period running from 2023 to 2025, the remainder of this Government's term in office.

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