Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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641. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an EU regulation or rule is in place that would prohibit her from providing for a dedicated sub-region for the offshore islands under LEADER; if so, when the regulation or rule was first introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56650/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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LEADER is a key programme within Our Rural Future, and as I announced recently the Expression of Interest stage to select the Groups to deliver the next LEADER programme is now open.

Article 31 of the EU Common Provisions Regulation 2021/1060 requires Member States to ensure that community-led local development is focused on sub-regional areas. As is the case with the current LEADER programme, the sub regional areas for the new LEADER programme will correspond with county boundaries. This alignment will help to ensure coherence of LEADER funding with other initiatives and policies delivered on a county basis, thus helping to deliver the best impact and value for money for LEADER.

The offshore islands will continue to be aligned with their relevant sub-regional area and a separate Island Local Action Group (LAG) will not form part of the LEADER delivery model.

A number of important elements are included in the model for the new programme which address the specific needs and challenges of the Island communities. Any LAGs selected in an area that includes island communities will be required to identify in their LEADER strategy specific actions developed in consultation with the island communities themselves and include an indicative budget to implement such actions. In addition, a representative of the island grouping, in each sub-regional area, must be included in the decision-making body of the LAG.

It is important that the key public and private stakeholders in communities across Ireland come together in partnership to deliver the new LEADER programme, ensuring that LEADER can continue to deliver real benefits to rural communities across Ireland including our island communities.