Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next Leader programme will become operational; the total funding in place for the programme; the funding that will be allocated for the programme in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17950/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.

An indicative budget of €180 million is allocated for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. 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 draft CAP Strategic Plan, which includes LEADER, was submitted to the EU Commission by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the end of December 2021. This is in line with the timelines set by the EU Commission.

The process of negotiating and agreeing the plan with the EU Commission has thus commenced. The timeline for implementation of the new LEADER Programme is closely linked to this process.

Accordingly, my officials will continue to work closely with colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the EU Commission over the coming months with a view to obtaining approval for the CAP Strategic Plan, as a matter of priority.

Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are underway and my officials are also engaging with stakeholders in this regard. Decisions relating to all aspects of the programme including the distribution of funding at county level, will form part of the new programme design phase.

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