Press Statement
Kieran O’Donnell TD
O’Donnell welcomes over €2.74m Transitional LEADER funding for Limerick
-Transitional LEADER funding for 2021-2022 open to Communities and Enterprises in Limerick’s towns and Villages
–Encouraging Locally-led projects under themes of green economy, supporting remote working and the digital transformation, developing our outdoor amenities and creating jobs in rural areas
Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell has today welcomed the announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development of the details of over €2.74m LEADER funding for Limerick as part of the 2021-2022 Transitional Programme.
“I welcome today’s announcement by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys of over €2.74m LEADER funding for Limerick as part of the 2021-2022 Transitional Programme and will come as a great boost for rural communities with creative ideas and projects for their area.
“€2,740,812 has been for allocated for our rural communities and enterprises in towns and villages across Limerick. The funding is available to apply for by local groups immediately through Limerick’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and their implementing partners at Ballyhoura Development and West Limerick Resources respectively.
“This transitional programme is encouraging locally-led projects under the themes of the green economy, supporting remote working and the digital transformation, developing our outdoor amenities and creating jobs in rural areas which forms part of the recently published Our Rural Future Plan.
“Rural Communities and enterprises in Limerick should contact Ballyhoura Development Ltd on 063- 91300 or by email to leader@ballyhoura.org or West Limerick Resources on 069- 62222 or by email to rdp@wlr.ie.
“I would encourage all interested communities to apply for this LEADER funding now so they can see their project come to fruition.
END.
Notes to Editor:
Press Release from Minister Heather Humphreys on the details of the €70m Transitional LEADER Programme
9th April 2021
Press Release
Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces details of new €70m Transitional LEADER Programme
- 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 LEADER a key plank of Our Rural Future
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, T.D. 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
Notes for 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 I.