merrion street

• Local Groups can apply for funding immediately
• A total of €70 million to support rural communities and enterprises
• Funding allocations for 29 Local Action Groups announced
• Ground-Up approach of LAEADER a key plank of Our Rural Future

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (9th April 2021) announced the details of the allocation of the €70 million Transitional LEADER programme for the period 2021-2022.

• €65 million is being allocated to support locally-led rural development projects across the 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs)
• €3 million is being allocated to support the LEADER Co-operation measure which encourages rural areas to work together on collaborative projects
• €2 million will be allocated to prepare for the next LEADER Programme

Minister Humphreys has also today published the funding allocations being provided to each of the 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs).

Announcing details of the new programme today, Minister Humphreys said:

“Last week, I launched Our Rural Future, the Government’s ambitious new policy for the development of rural Ireland.

“As I said at the launch Government alone does not have all the answers and there can be no one-size-fits all approach.

“Every Town, Village and Parish is different and that means the people best placed to effect change in their communities are the people who live there.

“LEADER has always been about a ground up, community led approach and that’s why I am delighted to announce details of this new €70million fund today.”

Minister Humphreys continued:

“This funding will support locally-led projects which focus on many of the key themes of Our Rural Future such as building capacity and empowering local communities, embracing opportunities in the green economy, supporting remote working and the digital transformation, developing our outdoor amenities and creating jobs in rural areas.”

Minister Humphreys concluded:

“The new programme is now open for applications and I would encourage communities and local enterprises who wish to avail of funding to make contact with their Local Development Company to discuss how the LEADER Programme can assist their plans.

“If the pandemic has taught us anything it is to think outside the box so if you have an innovative idea that can make a real difference in your community then pick up the phone and contact your local LEADER company today.”

Contact details for all Local Action Groups and their Implementing Partners (Local Development Companies) can be located here:

ENDS

Contact:

The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

076-1006843 / 087-1734633

Press.office@drcd.gov.ie

Note to editors: 

LEADER is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU which operates a locally-led, bottom-up, approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas.  LEADER forms part of Ireland’s multi-annual Rural Development Programme which is co-financed by the EU and is part of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

The LEADER programme is delivered by 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas. These groups are partnerships of public and private entities from a defined geographical area. LAGs are responsible for identifying and helping to develop local projects which support the themes of Economic Development (including enterprise development and job creation), Social Inclusion and Rural Environment.

Of the €70 million, €65 million is being allocated across the 29 LAGs, €3 million is being allocated to support Co-operation projects and innovation between LAGs and €2 million is being provided to support the development of the next LEADER Programme.

The distribution of the €65 million being made available to the Local Action Groups over 2021 & 2022 under the Transitional Programme is based, pro-rata, on the allocations received by each LAG at the outset of the 2014-2020 programme. The allocation for each LAG area is outlined in Appendix 1.

Appendix 1