Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1171. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason that community and parish books cannot be funded through the LEADER programme (details supplied); if the new round of LEADER funding will revise this decision to allow these books funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14735/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future.

Funding under the LEADER programme is focused on a thematic approach to rural development under the headings of Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation; Social Inclusion; and the Rural Environment. These themes are set out and agreed in Ireland's Rural Development Programme, which is co funded by the EU. The programme is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the country.

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 area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.

In this context, community and parish books may be considered eligible for funding under the LEADER programme. However, decisions on the nature of the projects to be supported and the funding to be awarded are solely a matter for each LAG.