Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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385. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the average processing time for LEADER programme funding applications in each of the past three years; and if he will outline the measures being taken to improve administrative efficiency and reduce delays. [21882/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The LEADER Programme supports a broad range of enterprises and community groups to develop projects which improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland, who have responsibility for the selection and approval of projects.

The LEADER programme is a multi-annual programme, with the current programme running to 2027, and therefore information on processing times is provided for each programming period.

Under the 2014-2022 LEADER Programme the median processing time for project applications was 55 calendar days and the median processing time for project applications under the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is 42 calendar days.

The processing time ensures compliance with the governance measures. For example, 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 for the relevant LEADER area, and it must comply with the EU Regulations and Operating Rules in place for the programme.

The EU Regulations and Operating Rules also provide for a suite of governance measures including multiple checks and balances within the LEADER project selection process, together with a robust evaluation process and clear selection criteria, to ensure the appropriate use of EU and Exchequer funding under the Programme.

As committed to in the Programme for Government, my Department is examining ways to simplify the application process, and my official continue to implement improvements in areas such as the online system and the potential use of simplified cost options in consultation with key stakeholders.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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386. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of annual allocations and actual expenditure under the LEADER rural development programme for each year since 2020; and if he will comment on any variations or underspend. [21883/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The current LEADER Programme runs to 2027 and is now up and running across the country. It supports a broad range of enterprises and community groups to develop projects which improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland which facilitates a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.

The LEADER programme is a multi-annual programme, with allocations in particular being linked to a programming period, rather than an annual basis. The total amount of funding allocated to LEADER for the period of 2021-2027 is €250 million, made up of €70 million for the Transitional LEADER programme for the years 2021 and 2022, and €180 million allocated for the LEADER programme 2023-2027.

The funding allocations for each sub-regional area was provided to Local Action Groups at the outset of each programme to provide them with greater flexibility managing their budgets over the programming period. Funding is then paid out by my Department as costs are incurred and claims for payment are submitted.

The annual outturn in relation to LEADER as reported in the Department’s Appropriation Accounts is set out in the table below:

Details in relation to projects approved for funding are published on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/LEADER

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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387. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the key performance indicators used to measure the effectiveness of the LEADER programme in rural economic and community development; and if he will publish comparative outcomes for the 2014 to 2020 and 2023 to 2027 programming periods to date. [21884/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The current LEADER Programme runs to 2027 and is now up and running across the country. It supports a broad range of enterprises and community groups to develop projects which improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. It is delivered through Local Action Groups across rural Ireland.

The monitoring framework for the LEADER programme is underpinned by the themes and sub-themes for the programme, and the objectives set by each Local Action Group in their Local Development Strategy. As each Local Action Group developed their Local Development Strategy, they were required to set out the key indicators relating to their proposed actions. Thus, at local level, each Local Development Strategy has a set of bespoke indicators in place.

At the overall programme level, LEADER is subject to the EU's common framework for monitoring and evaluation which applies to the wide range of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funded programmes. This framework sets out a range of common indicators which the Department reports on to the EU, and also reports on in its Annual Report.

Examples of the indicators and metrics used to measure the performance of the 2014-2022 LEADER programme included:

• the number and value of projects supported with over 5,800 projects supported with funding of over €243 million,
• the support towards micro, small and medium enterprises with enterprise supports provided to over 1,700 businesses,
• jobs created and sustained with over 3,800 Full Time Equivalent posts created and over 12,500 Full Time Equivalent posts sustained, and,
• training with over 46,000 people completing training under LEADER.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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388. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the proportion of LEADER funding allocated specifically to projects within Gaeltacht areas over the past five years; and if he will assess the impact of the programme on sustaining linguistic and economic development in these communities. [21885/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The LEADER Programme supports a broad range of enterprises and community groups to develop projects which improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. It is delivered through Local Action Groups across rural Ireland, facilitating a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.

The LEADER programme is a multi-annual programme, with the current programme running to 2027, and therefore information is provided for each programming period.

In the period 2014-2022, 225 projects with a value of €7.3 million were recorded by individual Local Action Groups as having received an allocation of funding in Gaeltacht areas.

Project approvals under the 2023-2027 LEADER programme are at the early stage of the programming period as Local Action Groups engage with applicants to generate high quality project proposals. I look forward to seeing the level of approvals grow in the coming months as applications are progressed, including for Gaeltacht areas.

LEADER projects have common performance indicators associated with a particular programme sub-theme, which will facilitate monitoring and measuring of programme effectiveness. While there are no performance indicators specific for linguistic development in the current programme, the investment outlined above demonstrates my Department's support of Gaeltacht areas through LEADER. It is also of note that the current LEADER programme includes a number of new requirements designed to strengthen the implementation and impact of LEADER on our offshore islands.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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389. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if any independent evaluations of the LEADER programme’s value for money have been commissioned since 2020; if so, to provide the main findings; and if further reviews are planned in the current programme cycle. [21886/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Department strives to ensure that programmes under its remit are operating effectively and efficiently, which includes the undertaking of independent evaluations.

In 2021, the Department sought an independent review of LEADER delivery models for the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme. The overall aim of the review exercise was to gauge the effectiveness of the 2014-2020 LEADER programme and explore how the delivery mechanisms for 2023-2027 LEADER Programme could be implemented. The report made a number of recommendations which informed the selection process for the current LEADER programme which runs to 2027.

As a core element of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) framework, the LEADER programme is subject to a range of ongoing evaluation and monitoring arrangements at EU level. For example, the programme is part of the Monitoring Committee structure in place to monitor progress across CAP measures in each member state, and is subject to the EU's Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework which requires, inter alia, the submission of Annual Implementation Reports to the EU Commission. In addition, LEADER formed part of the interim review of the CAP Rural Development Programme and will also be included in the ex-post evaluation to be completed by the end of 2026. A similar evaluation framework is in place for the CAP Strategic Plan (the successor to the Rural Development Programme) with formal evaluations required under EU regulations to coincide with the programming period to 2027.

Finally, the LEADER programme is also subject to the range of inspection and audit requirements that are set out in the governing EU regulations, and a departmental internal audit review of the Programme is also scheduled to commence this year.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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390. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total value of LEADER rural development funding allocated in each of the past ten years, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21887/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The current LEADER Programme runs to 2027 and is now up and running across the country. It supports a broad range of enterprises and community groups to develop projects which improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland, facilitating a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.

The LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. The budget for the CAP for the period 2021-2027 forms part of the Multiannual Financial Framework, or the EU Budget for that period. It is therefore a multi-annual programme, with allocations and outturn being linked to a programming period, rather than an annual basis.

The total amount of funding allocated to LEADER for the period of 2021-2027 is €250 million. This funding is made up of €70 million for the Transitional LEADER programme for the years 2021 and 2022, and €180 million for the LEADER programme 2023-2027, maintaining the level of funding at €250 million for the 7 year period, in line with the previous 2014-2020 LEADER programme.

Generally, the funding is allocated to the LAGs at the outset of the programme to provide them with greater flexibility to manage their budgets over the programming period. Funding is then paid out by my Department as costs are incurred and claims for payment are submitted.

The table at the link below provides the allocation of funding by county, on a programme basis. As some initiatives, such as the LEADER food initiatives and co-operation measures, had standalone processes and were not allocated in advance, these are not captured in the table below.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total annual allocation to the social inclusion and community activation programme for each of the past five years; and if he will comment on any trends in funding levels over that period. [21888/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme, which aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need.

SICAP funding is subject to the annual budgetary Estimates process. There has been a positive trend of year-on-year increases in SICAP funding in recent years, with 2022 seeing the largest increase in funding at 10%, or €4m. In 2023 there was a further increase of €1.3m, in 2024 an increase of €3m and in 2025 a further increase of €1.5m. This represents a total increase of €9.8m for the programme over the past five years, bringing the annual funding to €48.9m in 2025.

Separate to this increase in SICAP core funding, additional funding of €26m has also been distributed through SICAP to support Ukrainian Nationals displaced by war since 2022. €10m has also been committed in 2025 which includes supports to all New Arrivals and International Protection Applicants.

I am keenly aware that challenges remain for communities across Ireland, and in that context I want to express my commitment to progressively increasing funding for SICAP, in line with the Programme for Government commitment.

SICAP allocations from 2021 to 2025 are set out in the following table:

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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392. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of individuals and groups supported under the social inclusion and community activation programme each year since 2020; and if he will provide a breakdown by county. [21889/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies to help those in the greatest need. SICAP aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches.

SICAP has two Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with targets set on an annual basis across the 2 programme goals.

Goal one is supporting communities, which involves supporting local community groups representing disadvantaged communities and target groups so that they can work towards solving social exclusion issues that affect them.

Table 1: Number of Community Groups/Organisations (KPI 1) supported by year:

Goal two involves supporting individuals who have been identified as being in need to improve their life chances. This can be through lifelong learning and training, getting labour market supports to improve work readiness, or working with people in broader and more holistic ways so that they can improve their quality of life and general well-being.

Table 2: Number of Individuals (KPI 2) supported by year:

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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393. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the criteria used to assess the performance and impact of SICAP-funded initiatives; and if he will publish the latest programme evaluation findings. [21890/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies to help those in the greatest need.

SICAP has 2 programme goals. Goal one is supporting communities, which involves supporting local community groups representing disadvantaged communities and target groups so that they can work towards solving social exclusion issues that affect them. Goal two involves supporting individuals who have been identified as being in need, to improve their life chances. This can be through lifelong learning and training, labour market supports to improve work readiness, or working with people in broader and more holistic ways so that they can improve their quality of life and general well-being.

Under each of these goals, Programme Implementers (PIs) and their relevant Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) are required to set and meet Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) based on indicative Department data on an annual basis. Information on KPI outputs as well as beneficiary progress and results are captured through the Integrated Reporting and Information System – IRIS. Reports can be generated through IRIS summarising key information about SICAP, assisting LCDCs and PIs to monitor progress, as well as supporting Pobal and my Department with overall SICAP monitoring.

Programme impact and outcomes are also recorded in Annual Reports and Case Studies submitted each year by Programme Implementers. An end of programme report for SICAP 2018 to 2023 is also nearing finalisation and will be published shortly.

In addition to the continuous in-programme monitoring, my Department regularly commissions research and assessments of programme efficacy for SICAP, with research conducted by Pobal and the ESRI, including comparative data on Women and Men supported by SICAP, the ESRI Evaluation of Pre-Employment Supports under SICAP, the Role of SICAP in Supporting New Arrivals and so on which are available on Pobal's website here: www.pobal.ie/programmes/social-inclusion-and-community-activation-programme-sicap-2024-2028/

Finally, a key part of the design and development of each new iteration of the programme is the commissioning of an independent review of the prior programme and a holistic stakeholder consultation, the most recent of which was conducted on behalf of the Department by KPMG. The findings of the Review and Consultation for SICAP 2018-2023, which heavily informed programme design for SICAP 2024+, are available on my Department’s website here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development/policy-information/social-inclusion-and-community-activation-programme-sicap/

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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394. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to ensure the social inclusion and community activation programme is fully aligned with national anti-poverty and social inclusion strategies over the period 2025 to 2030. [21891/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme, which aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals. It is national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need.

SICAP is a targeted, holistic programme, for those who are most disadvantaged and less likely to access mainstream services, which provides supports directly to beneficiaries and links them into existing services.

By its nature, SICAP’s services cut across a wide range of interdepartmental and national strategies. As such, the programme features commitments on service delivery under these strategies, including the National Action Plan Against Racism 2023 - 2027, the National Traveller, Roma and Inclusion Strategy II 2024 – 2028, the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, the National Social Enterprise Strategy and National Drugs Strategy, to name but a few. My Department is represented at a range of strategic implementation working groups for such strategies in the SICAP context, to ensure the programme is fulfilling its strategic commitments, to address barriers to implementation and to enhance interagency and interdepartmental co-ordination of services.

My Department regularly engages with local authorities, local development companies and community organisations in developing strategic commitments for SICAP and of course implementation of these social inclusion measures. Additionally, my Department has commenced work on developing successor policies to the Our Rural Future and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities strategies, and can assure the Deputy that SICAP officials will be engaged throughout the development process to ensure the programme is aligned with the ethos of both strategies.