A €250 million fund to tackle rural isolation, generate employment and stimulate village renewal has been announced by Environment Minister Alan Kelly and Minister of State Anne Phelan.
The first stage, an open call for expressions of interest from any group who wants to be considered a Local Action Group, was launched today. The selection process consists of two stages and seeks to secure high quality local development strategies to complement economic development work being carried out by local authorities.
The funding supports the delivery of the LEADER programme (the Department of the Environment's Rural Development Programme) to rural areas out to 2020.
Interested parties have 8 weeks to prepare their submission - the closing date for receipt of expressions of interest is 15th May 2015.
Minister Kelly said the funding is
"...about community participation, boosting employment and tackling rural isolation. LEADER has supported so many successful businesses that are at the forefront of rural innovation."
Minister Phelan added:
"I am confident that these resources will support the sustainable development of rural communities the length and breadth of the country. I look forward to seeing and hearing about the projects that will be funded in rural areas .....that will make a real difference in the lives of many rural communities."
For more information, read the full press release here.
Minister Kelly said that “This funding is about community participation, boosting employment and tackling rural isolation. That is why I am delighted to launch this programme in the Cottage in Loughmore, Co.Tipperary – a place where the community worked to reinvigorate the village by thinking outside the box and establishing a local co-operative tea-shop that is now thriving through voluntary effort. I want to see this replicated in more places throughout the country.
“LEADER has supported so many successful businesses that are at the forefront of rural innovation. However in the past, too much of this funding was used for local historical books or to develop rural tourism brochures. This time it has to be spent on projects that will sustain employment in a community.”
Minister Phelan added “I am delighted to be launching the LEADER strategy selection process that will allow Local Action Groups all over the country to express an interest in supporting the delivery of LEADER funding over the next 5-6 years. I too am confident that these resources will support the sustainable development of rural communities the length and breadth of this country” I look forward to seeing and hearing about the projects that will be funded in rural areas as a result of this funding which will, I have no doubt, make a real difference in the lives of many rural communities”.
- See more at: http://merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/Releases/Ministers_Kelly_Phelan_launch_%E2%82%AC250_million_Rural_Development_Programme_.html#sthash.oQy0MRpV.dpuf
Minister Kelly said that “This funding is about community participation, boosting employment and tackling rural isolation. That is why I am delighted to launch this programme in the Cottage in Loughmore, Co.Tipperary – a place where the community worked to reinvigorate the village by thinking outside the box and establishing a local co-operative tea-shop that is now thriving through voluntary effort. I want to see this replicated in more places throughout the country.
“LEADER has supported so many successful businesses that are at the forefront of rural innovation. However in the past, too much of this funding was used for local historical books or to develop rural tourism brochures. This time it has to be spent on projects that will sustain employment in a community.”
Minister Phelan added “I am delighted to be launching the LEADER strategy selection process that will allow Local Action Groups all over the country to express an interest in supporting the delivery of LEADER funding over the next 5-6 years. I too am confident that these resources will support the sustainable development of rural communities the length and breadth of this country” I look forward to seeing and hearing about the projects that will be funded in rural areas as a result of this funding which will, I have no doubt, make a real difference in the lives of many rural communities”.
- See more at: http://merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/Releases/Ministers_Kelly_Phelan_launch_%E2%82%AC250_million_Rural_Development_Programme_.html#sthash.oQy0MRpV.dpuf