Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 May 2025
390. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total value of LEADER rural development funding allocated in each of the past ten years, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21887/25]
View answerThe current LEADER Programme runs to 2027 and is now up and running across the country. It supports a broad range of enterprises and community groups to develop projects which improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland, facilitating a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.
The LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. The budget for the CAP for the period 2021-2027 forms part of the Multiannual Financial Framework, or the EU Budget for that period. It is therefore a multi-annual programme, with allocations and outturn being linked to a programming period, 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 LEADER programme 2023-2027, maintaining the level of funding at €250 million for the 7 year period, in line with the previous 2014-2020 LEADER programme.
Generally, the funding is allocated to the LAGs at the outset of the programme to provide them with greater flexibility to manage their budgets over the programming period. Funding is then paid out by my Department as costs are incurred and claims for payment are submitted.
The table at the link below provides the allocation of funding by county, on a programme basis. As some initiatives, such as the LEADER food initiatives and co-operation measures, had standalone processes and were not allocated in advance, these are not captured in the table below.
