Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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414. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason funding to the LEADER programme has been cut year-on-year in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Budgets; which aspects of the programme will be affected by these cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56125/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. It is a multi-annual programme, with allocations being linked to a programming period set at EU level, 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 2023-2027 LEADER programme, maintaining the level of funding at €250 million for the 7 year period, in line with the previous 2014-2020 LEADER programme.

The funding allocations for each sub-regional area are provided to Local Action Groups (LAGs) 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.

Given the structure of the LEADER programme, it is expected that the pattern of expenditure would not be evenly spread over each year. For example, certain years can include expenditure in respect of more than one programming period. In other years expenditure can be lower as LAGs focus on engaging with applicants throughout the country to develop and progress high quality project applications.

The original €180 million budget for the 2023-2027 LEADER programme has not been reduced and will be made available by my department as projects are completed over the programming period.