Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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249. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding that has been provided through Project Ireland 2040 to support the Great Gathering (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13227/22]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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250. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding that has been provided through her Department to support the Great Gathering (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13228/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together.

The LEADER programme is part of an integrated suite of capital investment measures operated by my Department under the National Development Plan as part of Project Ireland 2040.  It is a key intervention which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future.

LEADER is administered by 29 Local Action Groups (LAG) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. Each LAG has a funding allocation for the duration of the programme.  Project applications are made to, and independently approved by, the relevant LAG in each LEADER area.

The LEADER Food Initiative is a measure under the LEADER programme which aims to  support the further development of food and beverage businesses throughout rural Ireland. The funding covers, amongst other things, the renovation and extension of production facilities and the purchasing of processing equipment, as well as supporting participants in the artisan food and beverage sector in areas such as market development, competitiveness, and innovation. 

With regard to the project referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that the project received LAG approval for a LEADER grant amount of €200,000 in 2021 as part of the LEADER Food Initiative.