The representative body for the country’s Local Development Companies who deliver the LEADER programme has today welcomed the government’s allocation of an additional €5m funding to the LEADER Programme in the Rural Development Plan.
Irish Local Development Network vice-chairperson, Éamonn Ó’ Reilly, said that the extra money for the rural economy will have a significant positive impact,
“In the current environment, this extra funding will help realise the potential of many rural entrepreneurs and communities. Local Development Companies are making great progress in advancing the 2014 – 2020 LEADER programme and this allocation will assist extra communities as we come near the end of the current funding round.”
Minister Michael Ring has indicated that extra allocations will be made this coming September. O’ Reilly says all LEADER companies are well advanced in delivering on the Local Development Strategy for their area,
“the Local Development Strategy is crucial for all parts of rural Ireland and LEADER is central to delivering on its objectives in a much wider way than grant -giving alone. Through the LEADER programme, local communities are pressing ahead with strategically important projects and we are available to assist them with their plans.”
For follow-up: Éamonn O’Reilly eamonnoreilly@newkd.ie 087 9677034 or
Joe Saunders joe@ildn.ie 087 9379572
Irish Local Development Network CLG is supported by The Scheme to Support National Organisations which is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Rural and Community Development.
