Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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1181. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding streams available to those in rural County Wicklow who wish to establish tourist accommodation such as campsites, self-catering, bed and breakfast, guest houses and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24719/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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LEADER is a multi-annual programme covering the period 2014-2020. It is co-funded by the EU and funding is delivered through Local Action Groups in each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the country.

Funding under LEADER is available for a range of defined themes, which include enterprise development and job creation, social inclusion, and the environment.

The Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation theme of the LEADER Programme focuses on driving continued local economic development, including diversification of the rural economy, rural tourism and the creation of employment opportunities for the local community. In that context, support for the tourism related activities outlined by the Deputy may be considered eligible for LEADER funding.

In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy in the sub-regional area concerned, which in this case is the Wicklow Local Development Strategy, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.

The decision to approve a project, or otherwise, is a matter for the Wicklow Local Action Group (LAG) which is the Wicklow Local Community Development Committee. Interested applicants should, in the first instance, contact the Wicklow LAG through its Implementing Partner to discuss the funding that may be available.

The Implementing Partner for the Wicklow LAG is: County Wicklow Partnership, Third Floor Avoca River House, Bridgewater Centre, Arklow, Co. Wicklow.

Contact details for County Wicklow Partnership are as follows:

- Telephone: 0402 20955

- E-mail: info@wicklowpartnership.ie.