Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This Commencement matter relates to the LEADER programme, which the Minister of State will be very aware of. He knows of its enormous benefits. I am asking some questions and seeking clarification on the next round of LEADER funding. The local development companies under the LEADER programme were initially set up in response to the multidimensional nature of social inclusion throughout local areas. This was to be a responsive, innovative and integrated approach to building the partnership model, with which the Minister of State will be very familiar, based on local ownership. This arose from the OECD's 2005 recommendations. Today, the LEADER programme offers best-placed local solutions to the challenges for urban and rural development across Ireland. These companies have worked very successfully. There has been great partnership and buy-in to the LEADER programme. The programme has a great future and potential to expand, given the right supports and appropriate resources.

There are 14 urban and 35 rural local development companies covering the entire Twenty-six Counties of the State. More could be done if there were more resources. The implementation of their plans is really important, which raises the issue of the next phase of the LEADER programme. All of us, including the Minister of State, know the significance and importance of the programme so I will not give a history lesson on the success of LEADER. I will say that I know the Government is committed to it, that there are limited resources and that there is always pressure on central government resources and finances. However, this programme has worked really well. I am very familiar with a number of these companies and I will mention a few that I have been in touch with: the Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership, the Bray Area Partnership, Cavan County Local Development and Galway Rural Development. Where are we with regard to the next round of funding for the LEADER programme? The organisers and the people involved need to know in order to plan for the future.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue. Like him, I am a big supporter of the work of LEADER groups. They have achieved quite a lot over recent years and I look forward to their future success. I am happy to recognise and confirm that I support their work, as do many people in these Houses because they have achieved quite a lot in working directly with our communities, both urban and rural. We want to build on their success. I look forward to continuing to work with them and to supporting their work. I am glad the Senator has raised this issue on behalf of all the LEADER groups.

The LEADER programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s policy for rural development launched last year, which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over its lifetime. As the Senator mentioned, LEADER is a multi-annual programme for rural development co-funded by the EU through the Common Agricultural Policy. The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in rural areas and certain urban areas in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.

Local action groups, LAGs, which administer the programme at local level, have approved more than 5,200 projects to the value of €220 million nationally since the 2014-2020 LEADER programme began in the middle of 2016. The type of projects supported include construction projects, biodiversity and renewable energy projects, analysis and development-type projects and marketing and training projects.These projects bring much-needed assistance to small businesses at this time, as well as supporting job retention and new employment opportunities.

As we look to the future and the next LEADER programme, in April 2021, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, launched a two-year transitional LEADER programme for 2021 and 2022, which ensured for the first time that there was no funding gap between this programming period and the next programme, which will begin in 2023. Some €250 million has been made available for LEADER for the period 2021 to 2027 maintaining the level of funding provided for the current programming period. This funding comprises €70 million for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 and an additional €180 million from 2023 to 2027. This level of funding is evidence of the Government’s continued support for the LEADER programme.

Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023 to 2027 are well under way. There is ongoing engagement between the Department of Rural and Community Development officials and stakeholders in this regard. Decisions relating to all aspects of the programme will be considered as part of the ongoing programme design phase. It is proposed to hold the local development strategy and LAG selection process over two stages. The selection of the LAGs cannot commence until the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, strategic plan, CSP, is approved by the EU Commission, which is expected to happen later in the year. However, the first stage, which is an expression of interest by eligible groups, could commence in advance of the CSP approval in order to be ready to launch the second stage once that approval is forthcoming.

The ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders, combined with the funding allocation of €250 million indicated, will ensure that the LEADER programme from 2023 will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses, and certain urban areas as well.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State. His reply, while welcome, involved some uncertainty and vagueness. There were references to what will, could and may happen with the programme. I would like something a bit stronger than that. I know this does not relate directly to the Minister of State's Department but he might bring back to the officials in the Department some greater certainty.

We are very familiar with the CSP and LAGs, as is the Minister of State. I welcome the fact that he has confirmed there is engagement. However, we need something more solid. I am hearing from people engaged in LEADER who prompted my submission of this matter. I am acting on behalf of people involved in the programme who say there is a certain degree of uncertainty involved. The Minister of State's reply has confirmed that sense of uncertainty because it contained references to what could, may, shall and will happen with LEADER. It referred to what is hoped will happen. I do not doubt anyone's commitment to the programme but it is important that we continue the communication because 2023 remains a while away.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and for his positive response. We need communication with all the people involved in the LEADER programme. I wish the programme continued success.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I am sorry that the Minister could not be here to take the debate herself. She is committed. I will certainly bring back to her the Senator's message that we need to strengthen the commitment and the language involved. I will again point to the budget that is set aside and approved by the Government as well as to the targets to have the engagement completed this year and plans rolled out in good time. I will bring those points to the Minister in the hope those concerns can be dealt with.

I am meeting representatives of the Meath Partnership this week, along with our MEPs, to analyse and discuss their work. Every time we meet, the partnership is doing more work and providing more services. I know the story is similar throughout the country. There are great interventions happening as we work with communities and bring them together in many areas. We are committed to that. I have heard the Senator's concerns about the length of time involved and the commitments in that regard. The commitments are strong. It does take time but we need to speed it up. I will bring that back to the Minister. As the Senator knows, she is a can-do Minister. She will drive these matters on and ensure they are done in time.