Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1712 to 1716, inclusive, together.

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.

The process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) responsible for the delivery of the 2023-2027 LEADER programme commenced in October 2022 when the funding allocation for each sub-regional area was announced. The sub-regional areas are, in the main, aligned with county boundaries. The methodology to distribute the funding used a baseline allocation for each sub-region together with an allocation based on the population density and the level of deprivation in each area. The process of allocating LEADER funding within a sub-regional area where more than one application was received used the same metrics examined at a more granular level. County Mayo has been allocated €8.8 million in funding for the programming period 2023-2027.

The process to select the LAGs was conducted over two stages. In Stage 1 candidate LAGs were given the opportunity to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to develop a Local Development Strategy (LDS) for their sub-regional area. The successful applicants following this stage were then invited to Stage 2 to develop their LDS in order to effectively target and address the needs and development potential of their sub-regional area through a community-led local development (CLLD) approach.

LDSs which were submitted in July 2023 were initially assessed and then adjudicated on by an Independent Selection Committee (ISC). The ISC was established in line with the EU regulations governing the programme and its membership was comprised of individuals from academia, business and environment sectors as well as representatives from my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Two candidate LAGs in Mayo submitted a LDS for consideration. These were Mayo LCDC with a number of implementing partners including Mayo North East LEADER Partnership and South West Mayo Development Company CLG. Following the conclusion of Stage 2 neither applicant was selected to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER programme. Both applicants have been made aware of the outcome of the selection process and that further information is available if necessary from my Department.

An opportunity to appeal the decision has been afforded to both applicants and they may do so by writing to my Department outlining their grounds for such appeal. The applicants have been advised of the appeal process and the final date for submission is 19 April 2024. All appeals area assessed by an independent external reviewer.

An appropriate period of time must be provided to address any appeals that may arise and following this period, if necessary, I will proceed with a new process to ensure that the LEADER programme can be operational in Mayo without any unnecessary delays.