Groups invited to express interest in EU’s Leader scheme to tackle rural isolation

Groups interested in running the €250 million local development Leader programme in their areas have been invited to make an expression of interest.

The EU programme, which will run until 2020, will focus on tackling rural isolation, generating employment and stimulating village renewal. Groups wishing to run the programme in their areas must be able to show that they are involved in local and community activities.

Announcing the details, Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said he was particularly keen to see new ideas on renewing villages and small towns.

While he said previous Leader programmes had supported many successful businesses, “too much of this funding was used for local historical books or to develop rural tourism brochures. This time it has to be spent on projects that will sustain employment in a community”.

Details of the programme were announced in the Cottage co-operative tea-shop in Loughmore, in Mr Kelly’s Tipperary constituency. He said this was a perfect example of a community working to reinvigorate the village by thinking outside the box. “I want to see this replicated in more places throughout the country.”

Sustainable development

Minister of State for Rural Affairs

Ann Phelan

said she was confident the Leader funds would support the sustainable development of rural communities throughout the State.

The Leader programme, which stands for Liaisons Entre Actions de Developpement de l'Economie Rurale, was set up by the European Commission in 1991 to encourage a "bottom-up approach" to development.

However, the Government’s decision to involve local authorities in running this programme has been criticised by community groups who say it is an attempt to take control back from the people. The county by county allocations of funds for the Leader programme show Cork will receive the most money, at almost €14 million, followed by Donegal, which will receive almost €13 million.

Galway will receive just more than €12 million. Co Kildare gets the smallest allocation of just more than €5 million.

€72 million reduction

The €250 million allocated to this programme is a reduction of €72 million on the funds spent on the previous Leader programme. Independent TD

Mattie McGrath

accused Mr Kelly of presiding over a “financial hatchet job”. “This latest round of cuts only confirms the view that despite the Minister’s rhetoric of commitment to rural communities, his decisions are telling a very different and a very brutal story,” he said.

The closing date for groups to submit their expressions of interest is May 15th.