Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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238. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department can assist a committee (details supplied); if she will review a document from the committee; the other funding options that may be available to this committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27457/24]

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 supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.

It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.

Funding under the 2023-2027 LEADER programme is not targeted at any particular group or sector in rural communities.  It is, rather, focused on a thematic approach to rural development under the headings; Economic Development and Job Creation, Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Funding for activities such as that referenced by the Deputy may be available under one of these themes.

In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy in the sub-regional area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.

Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant LAG, through its Implementing Partner to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. The Implementing Partner in North Tipperary is North Tipperary Development Company CLG (NTDC) and may be contacted by phone at 067 56676 or by emailing info@ntlp.ie.