OVER €1m in funding will be allocated to Donegal under the Transitional LEADER Programme, which will come into effect in April 2021.
LEADER is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU which operates a locally-led approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses.
The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal TD, Charlie McConalogue has welcomed the announcement of over €1m in funding for Donegal.
Minister McConalogue said: “This announcement was part of an initial allocation of €20m to support locally-led rural development.
“In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, the Transitional LEADER Programme will bridge a gap between the wind-up of the current 2014-2020 LEADER Programme and the start of the next EU programme, which is not likely to commence until 2023 due to delays at EU level.
“A key focus of the Transitional Programme will be on building capacity within communities which have not received LEADER funding to date.
“The programme will support job creation, foster and encourage entrepreneurship and encourage rural communities across Donegal to build on their existing strengths and assets.
“Under the Transitional Programme, the grant rate for enterprises and commercial projects will be increased from a maximum of 50 per cent to a maximum of 75 per cent to support enterprise development and job creation in rural areas.
“The Transitional Programme will give local communities and enterprises across Donegal an opportunity to respond to the emerging challenges facing rural areas and support those communities to implement a ‘bottom-up’ approach to developing their areas.”
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