Written answers

Thursday, 16 December 2021

Department of Rural and Community Development

Island Communities

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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644. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is planned to have one local action group specifically for the offshore islands in the next round of the LEADER programme as desired by the islanders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62610/21]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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645. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if independent companies can apply to administer next round of the LEADER programme; if it will be allocated solely to local community development committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62611/21]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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646. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if extra funding will be provided for environmentally sensitive areas in the next LEADER programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62612/21]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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647. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is planned to provide extra funding in less developed regions under the next round of LEADER funding for animation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62613/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 to 647, inclusive, together.

The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched earlier this year.

Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are well underway. My Department has commissioned an independent review of the delivery structures for the current programme, which is nearing completion. This review will draw on the experience of all stakeholders in the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme and help to underpin effective scheme design for the new LEADER programme.

An indicative budget of €180 million has been announced for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. When taken together with the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. The maintenance of the €250m funding allocation will underpin the continued contribution of the LEADER approach in delivering on the Government’s vision for Rural Ireland.

Decisions relating to the distribution of funding, the areas to be covered by the relevant strategies and actions to be supported by the Programme will form part of the programme design, which is currently ongoing.

The ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders combined with the funding allocation indicated will ensure that the LEADER programme from 2023 will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses.

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