Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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671. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a local community organisation can avail of grant funding to convert a premises in the village of Moyne, County Tipperary, into a community co-operative shop; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44265/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Funding may be available through the LEADER Programme for the type of project referred to by the Deputy.

LEADER is a multi-annual programme covering the period 2014-2020 which is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the country. To date, over 3,700 core projects have been approved under the current programme, for funding in excess of €149 million.

LEADER funding is provided under a broad range of themes, including Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation; Social Inclusion; and Rural Environment. Community groups and rural-based businesses can apply for funding under these themes.

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 for the relevant LEADER area, 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 LAG which administers the programme in each LEADER area. Interested applicants should, in the first instance, contact the relevant LAG through its Implementing Partner to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available.

The list of all Local Action Groups, their Implementing Partners and their contact details, is available on my Department's website at the following link: .

While project approvals under the current LEADER programme were due to be completed by the end of this month, I have extended the period for approvals to the end of March 2021. I also announced details yesterday of a new Transitional LEADER Programme which will commence from 1 April 2021.