Written answers
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Department of Rural and Community Development
Departmental Programmes
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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603. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to indicate her intentions for the current year in respect of the LEADER programme; whether she intends to introduce any modifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4290/24]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It is based on a community-led approach to rural development and supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.
The 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is broadly in line with the 2014-2022 Programme that is coming to a close at present. The emphasis of the 2023-2027 Programme will be the continued development of the rural economy including an increased focus on supporting female entrepreneurs in rural communities. In addition, there will be a strong focus on building the capacity of marginalised and new communities particularly in areas that have not benefited from LEADER financial support in the past. Support in the area of climate mitigation and adaptation measures will also be key areas to be addressed by the Local Action Groups.
The process to select the Local Action Groups to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is ongoing at present, with the selection complete in 18 sub-regional areas to date. Applicant groups will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in their sub-regional area once it is completed. Once a Local Action Group is approved it can commence the delivery of the programme in their area. The Kildare Local Community Development Committee has been selected to deliver the 2023-2027 Programme in partnership with County Kildare LEADER Partnership and Kildare County Council in the Kildare sub-regional area.
Strategies in the sub-regional areas where the process is not yet finalised are being considered by the Independent Selection Committee (ISC) with a view to completing the selection of the remaining LAGs in a timely manner. While the process to select the LAGs is ongoing at the moment it should be noted that those bodies engaged in delivering the 2014-2020 LEADER programme will continue to do so in 2024 until the completion of that programme.
My Department’s focus now is to complete the selection of the remaining LAGs to ensure a timely and smooth transition from the 2014-2020 programme.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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604. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline her ambitions for the community enhancement programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4291/24]
Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Last December, I was delighted to launch the 2024 Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaces my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. A key feature of the Local Enhancement Programme is that it is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most.
In general, support under the Local Enhancement Programme is available to, for example, Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds. The Local Enhancement Programme will provide capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas.
There will be a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used, but is not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.
The Local Enhancement Programme is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. The relevant LCDC receive and appraise applications, making determinations on how the funding can best support their communities. Details of successful projects under the 2024 Local Enhancement Programme will be published on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcdin quarter 2 of 2024.
Since 2018, my Department has allocated €58.9 million in funding under the Community Enhancement Programme and its iterations, and I have seen first-hand how these small grants make a big difference for local community groups. The feedback from community groups and from the LCDCs is very positive, and as these grants deliver immediate, targeted funding support that can be used against a range of costs, they are making a real impact on the ground in communities across the country.
I look forward to continuing to deliver meaningful supports like the Local Enhancement Programme to local communities as we support them to respond to the challenges they face.
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