Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1610. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41984/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

In line with the the Government’s Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025,'Our Rural Future’, I announced details of a €70 million Transitional LEADER Programme which came into effect last April and will cover the period 2021-2022. €65 million of this budget is available to the LAGs who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This allocation covers both core project expenditure and the administration and animation costs of the LAGs.

A further €3 million of the funding is being allocated to support co-operation projects and innovation between LAGs, while the remaining €2 million is being provided to provide preparatory support for the next LEADER programme. Further funding opportunities under the LEADER Food Initiative remain in place until the entirety of funds are exhausted.

€20 million of this transitional LEADER Programme is funded by the European Union Recovery Instrument, which will enable local communities and enterprises an opportunity to respond in a community-led local development manner to COVID-19.

I am confident that this level of funding will be sufficient to continue operation of the LEADER Programme through the end of 2022. It is anticipated that the next CAP and LEADER programme will commence in early 2023.