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

The indicative budget of €180 million has been announced for the LEADER programme for the period 2023 to 2027. When taken together with the €70 million for 2021 and 2022 under the transition LEADER programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 to 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided in the period 2014 to 2020.

Approximately €139 million has been paid to beneficiaries in respect of completed works, with 3,250 projects receiving their final payment claim, representing 62% of all projects approved. Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023 to 2027 are well under way. There is ongoing engagement between my officials, colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the EU Commission with a view to obtaining approval for the CAP strategic plan as a matter of priority. I cannot give the Deputy a specific date, but I can assure her a lot of work is going on to make sure the plan is approved as quickly as possible.

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