Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1491. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, following an extension of pillar 1 of CAP in order to ensure that direct payments could continue to farmers, pillar 2 CAP funding will be extended beyond 2020 in order to facilitate funding for the non-farming rural community to continue beyond the 2020 cut-off point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32363/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy's question refers to the funding for the LEADER Programme in the transitional period in 2021.

The LEADER 2014-2020 programme will come to an end this year as far as new project commitments are concerned. The Local Action Groups that deliver the programme have indicated that all available project funding will be allocated by the end of December 2020.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme. The Department of Rural and Community Development, as Managing Authority for the LEADER Programme, is currently examining the best approach to deliver on this commitment having regard, inter alia, to any transitional arrangements that may be agreed at European level before the end of this year.

My colleague, Minister Humphreys, hopes to be in a position shortly to announce details of the transitional arrangements.