Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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19. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on increasing the annual funding for the LEADER programme. [8586/23]

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. It forms part of Ireland's €10bn Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan.

Funding for the LEADER Programme 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 also provided additional Exchequer funding for LEADER Groups administration costs in 2022 where they had exhausted their original funding, and I have confirmed that this funding is 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.