Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

135. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on increasing the annual funding for the Leader programme. [53615/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. It forms part of Ireland's €10bn Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan, which was approved by Government earlier this month.

Funding is provided for the duration of the period rather than on an annual basis to allow more flexibility to the Local Action Groups to manage the programme budget in their areas of operation.

€250m has been made available for LEADER for the period 2021 to 2027. This is comprised of €70 million for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 and an additional €180 million from 2023 to 2027. This level of funding is evidence of the Government’s continued support for the LEADER programme, and matches the €250m provided for LEADER in the corresponding 7 year period from 2014-2020.

It is important to recognise that LEADER is a multi-annual programme and that payments in respect of projects which are approved in any given year are generally not drawn down until subsequent years, as projects are completed and payment claims are submitted. Therefore, costs related to projects approved and completed are met from the provision in my Department’s Vote on an annual basis.

I have also provided additional Exchequer funding for LEADER Groups administration in 2022 where they have exhausted their original funding, and I have confirmed that this funding will be made available again in 2023 as required.

I am confident that the level of funding allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period is sufficient to meet the demand for grant funding from rural communities and businesses and to continue the effective operation of the LEADER programme.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

136. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will extend the place-based leadership development programme to include Cherry Orchard. [53713/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Funded by my Department, the pilot Place-Based Leadership Development (P-BLD) Programme is being delivered in Darndale and Drogheda further to recommendations from the Nolan and Geiran reports. The Programme is an investment in local leaders to help them address the challenges experienced in those areas.

The P-BLD programme will strengthen the capacity of those already working hard to improve the quality of community life in Darndale and Drogheda. The programme will encourage and facilitate collaboration that will positively impact the culture of the area. It will build new community leaders to empower communities to address the issues they face. This approach will make a lasting impact and bring forward the solutions required.

I hope that the Place Based Leadership pilot programme will open up new perspectives and possibilities and provide opportunities for mutual learning that can be built upon and expanded to other communities in Ireland going forward, once we see the results from the initial pilot areas in Darndale and Drogheda.