Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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61. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated to projects in Ireland under the Leader programme from 2015 to 2021; the number and details of projects that were at least funded in part by the Leader programme broken down by county from 2015 to 2021, in tabular form. [60163/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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LEADER has been successfully delivering a wide range of innovative projects across Ireland for thirty years.

As part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, the 2014-2020 LEADER programme had a total funding allocation of €250 million. This is comprised of EU and National Exchequer funding.

I have also made €70 million available under the Transitional LEADER Programme for 2021 and 2022, and I have recently announced the allocation of a further €180m for the LEADER programme from 2023 to 2027.

Securing this funding will ensure that the LEADER programme will continue to deliver high quality and locally led projects all across Ireland in the coming years. This is reflective of the recognition of the benefits and success of the LEADER approach contained in the Government’s Rural Development Policy –Our Rural Future.

At least 75% of the funding provided to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) must be allocated to eligible projects with the remainder utilised by the LAGS for their administration and animation costs associated with bringing these projects to fruition.

Currently the number of projects funded by the LEADER programme is 4,905, which have an overall value of €204 million.

I am providing the Deputy with a table that outlines the number of projects approved in each of the LAG areas. Full details of projects approved are also available on my Department's website.

LEADER Projects approved 2015 to November 2021 Local Action Groups