Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of LEADER funding in Galway. The first point I want to make is that there is no cut in LEADER funding. That is not the core point he made. The point he made is about the per capitaallocation. As part of the new €10 billion CAP strategic plan, the Government has committed significant funding of €108 million to LEADER for the period 2023 to 2027. When that is taken together with the €70 million provided by the Government for last year and this year, this maintains the €250 million funding for LEADER for the corresponding seven-year programming period from 2014 to 2020.

All of the €180 million will be allocated upfront to local LEADER areas. This is a change from the previous programme where €30 million was withheld to fund initiatives delivered at a national level, such as the LEADER food initiative. When combined with the transitional funding, this means that all LEADER areas, including Galway, have an increased allocation of core programme funding compared to the corresponding seven-year period 2014 to 2020.

It is only one part of the contribution that the Government and all the bodies that work under our aegis are making to the regions and, indeed, to rural Ireland. When I look at the current range of schemes principally administered by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, and by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, whether it be the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the new community centres fund that is being set up, the town and village renewal programme, the CLÁR programme, the outdoor recreation fund or, indeed, the record sports capital funding of €150 million that we provided earlier this year, much of the funding went to the regions and to rural Ireland. When I look at the population figures, I see in Galway the population has risen by more than 7%, unemployment has fallen and we can see the benefits and the fruits of continued investment by the Government and, indeed, by a range of public bodies.

The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, recently confirmed the extension of the Croí Cónaithe towns and villages fund to rural Ireland as well. The ability to get direct cash-grant support of €30,000 or, in the case of a derelict home, €50,000 to bring it back into occupancy is something that will be warmly welcomed in rural communities all over Ireland. The details of that, I believe, will be confirmed shortly by the Minister. It is a practical demonstration of the Government's commitment to, and support for, rural communities all over Ireland.

Decisions will always have to be made about the allocation of resources. The Deputy made the point about the specific per capitaamount for Galway. The approach that has been taken by the Minister is to provide a minimum allocation of €3 million to each sub-regional area with the remaining funding distributed based on population and the level of deprivation of the area. This ensures funding is targeted at the areas most in need of LEADER support. This approach is similar to the approach taken under the previous LEADER programme with the relevant population and deprivation figures updated to take account of the passage of time.

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