Donegal projects are to benefit from a funding boost of €2.7million under the LEADER scheme which has been announced today.
Minister Joe McHugh revealed today that he has secured €2.7million to support 76 projects across the county under the Leader funding scheme.
The Donegal TD said the county will pull in the highest grant supports of any county under this special support programme for community, jobs and investment.
“These supports are making an enormous difference in the day to day lives of people and communities up and down Donegal,” Mr McHugh said.
“What we’ve got here for Donegal is the highest single grant support package under Leader for any county.
“I’ve been talking to companies, organisations and individuals today who got letters of offer a couple of months ago and now they’ve been greeted with this hugely significant boost in funding.
“The entire pot for the country was just shy of €30million and Donegal has secured €2.7million of that for 76 projects.”
The Leader funding is designed to provide support for jobs and investment across Donegal and is also focused on enterprise development, rural tourism, social inclusion and the environment.
Mr McHugh said: “I would like to especially thank my Government colleague Michael Ring, Minister for Rural and Community Development, for his work, yet again, on deepening and broadening supports, and especially for the impact in Donegal.
“This Government wants to see the Leader funding programme grow and grow.
“On top of this latest round of funding another 300 project applications nationwide are going through the approval process in a funding package of about €20 million.
“There has been a significant expansion in Leader activity and supports in the last year and the enormous opportunities that it creates.
“The ethos of Leader is to empower local groups on the ground to prioritise where the money can be best spent. This will ensure that the people who really need it can benefit,” said Minister McHugh.
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