Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2025
728. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the interim review of the current LEADER programme cycle will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67596/25]
View answerThe Department strives to ensure that programmes under its remit are operating effectively and efficiently, which includes participating in evaluations and review mechanisms.
As a core element of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) framework, the LEADER programme is subject to a range of ongoing evaluation and monitoring arrangements at EU level. For example, the programme is part of the Monitoring Committee structure in place to monitor progress across CAP measures in each member state as part of the national CAP Strategic Plan.
As such, it is subject to the EU's Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework on an ongoing basis which requires, inter alia, the submission of Annual Performance Reports to the EU Commission. This process is subject to the opinion of the Monitoring Committee, which includes stakeholders from across the agricultural sector, environmental NGOs and representatives of rural areas. In addition, LEADER formed part of the interim review of the CAP Rural Development Programme and will also be included in the ex-post evaluation to be completed by the end of 2026. While a similar evaluation framework is in place for the CAP Strategic Plan (the successor to the Rural Development Programme), given the 5 year duration of the programme and the ongoing monitoring being completed, this is likely to focus on ex-post evaluation, rather than an interim review.
Finally, the LEADER programme is also subject to the range of inspection and audit requirements that are set out in the governing EU regulations and are undertaken throughout the programming period.
In respect of the post 2027 LEADER programme, the development of the future CAP is a matter of significant importance for my Department. My officials are working closely with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to ensure that the LEADER programme remains a core element of the new CAP framework. I will continue to engage with my colleagues nationally and at EU level to advocate for a ring-fenced and well funded post 2027 LEADER programme.
