Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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757. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to outline any possible funding sources to assist an organisation nationally to purchase equipment to digitise patient details and records (details supplied). [53168/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My department implements a wide range of schemes and supports which are available to community organisations and other groups across the country. While, there is not a scheme directly related to the issue raised by the Deputy, there may be an avenue of support available under the LEADER programme.

The LEADER programme is part of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027 which is co-funded by the EU and the Exchequer. The programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who select and approve meaningful projects for the local area. The department itself has no role in project selection for LEADER funding.

Firstly, I should note that LEADER does not fund projects on a national basis. Instead, LEADER funded projects are typically based in one LEADER area, and the decision to approve a project, or otherwise, is a matter for the LAG which administers the programme in that area. However, the LEADER programme does facilitate cooperation projects, where a number of LAGs can come together to fund a project that covers their respective geographic areas.

It should be noted that 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. I would also add that LEADER does not fund projects in the five main cities, that is, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick or Waterford, or activities in Northern Ireland.

Further information regarding the LEADER programme, including contact details for LAGs which can be approached in the first instance with such queries, is available on: www.gov.ie/LEADER