Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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550. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding the future of LEADER funding, if his Department has considered any alternative or complementary funding models to ensure the continued delivery of community-led local development initiatives beyond the current LEADER programme period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62211/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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LEADER is a long standing and effective EU programme that delivers tangible benefits to rural communities in areas such as economic development and job creation, rural infrastructure, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Therefore, the development of EU regulations relating to the post 2027 Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP, and the new National and Regional Partnership Plans is a matter of significant importance to my Department.

Within the draft regulations, the inclusion of the LEADER programme as a CAP intervention is to be welcomed. As part of the on-going negotiation process, my Department continues to emphasise the importance of a ringfenced allocation for the LEADER Programme.

I note that detailed discussions in relation to the shape and operation of the new regulations are on-going at both national and EU levels. To facilitate the current negotiation process for the post 2027 period, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine has established a CAP Consultative Committee, which includes representation from my Department.

Separate to that engagement, I will also continue to work with MEPs and my Government colleagues to ensure that the LEADER programme is funded into the future.

In addition, I note that my Department funds many other community related initiatives and rural investment schemes. For example, under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme funding is provided to Local Development Companies to complete work to tackle poverty and social exclusion. Similarly, the range of schemes included in my department's Rural Development Investment Programme have seen unprecedented levels of investment in recent years. These and other programmes are making a real difference, and I am committed to ensuring that my department continues to implement a range of schemes and supports which directly benefit communities all across the country.