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

The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development.

LEADER funding is available in all areas of Ireland with the exception of the five main cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

The programme is delivered through Local Action Groups and is based on a community-led approach to rural development. It supports a broad range of activities that aim to respond to the needs of our rural areas over the lifetime of the policy. LEADER plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.

There were 19 LEADER projects approved in County Cork during 2023, for funding of almost €750,000. This has brought the total number of projects approved in County Cork over the lifetime of the 2014-2022 LEADER Programme to 390 projects worth in excess of €17 million. Over €14 million of this has been paid to beneficiaries to date.

For the 2023-2027 LEADER programme County Cork has been allocated €16.8 million. When this is added to the €4.1million allocated to Cork during the transitional period from 2021 to 2022 LEADER funding to the county has increased by almost €7 million over the previous 7 year period, 2014-2020.

I am confident that this level of funding will be sufficient to support the continued growth and development of rural communities in the area and that the new LEADER Programme will continue to build on the success of LEADER over the last 30 years.