Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As she will be aware, the LEADER programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s policy for rural development launched earlier this year. An indicative budget of €180 million was recently announced for the LEADER programme for the period 2023 to 2027. When taken together with the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the transitional LEADER programme, a total of €250 million will be made available, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014 to 2020 programme period. The maintenance of the €250 million funding allocation will underpin the continued contribution of the LEADER approach in delivering on the Government’s vision for rural Ireland.

Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023 to 2027 are well under way. My Department has commissioned an independent review of the current programme, which is nearing completion. This review will draw on the experience of all stakeholders in the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme and help to underpin effective scheme design for the new LEADER programme. My officials are also engaging with stakeholders on an ongoing basis regarding the design of the next LEADER programme. They are also working closely with colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the EU Commission in developing the next CAP strategic plan from 2023 to 2027, of which LEADER will form part. The ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders, combined with the funding allocation indicated, will ensure the LEADER programme from 2023 will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses.

It is important to say there is unprecedented investment in rural Ireland through all our other schemes. When comparing different periods, if you go back to 2007 to 2013, we did not have all these other funding schemes we now have that are providing investment in rural Ireland.

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