Donegal communities and businesses are set to benefit from an increased allocation of €70 million in LEADER funding for 2021 and 2022.
Following EU support, an extra €50 million has been added to the initial pot of €20 million announced in December 2020.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said that the funding will support rural communities and private enterprises in the recovery of Covid-19.
Donegal Local Development Company CLG (DLDC) has welcomed the announcement.
Padraic Fingleton, DLDC CEO said on Friday: “DLDC and the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) have been calling recently for the Government to utilise funding available from the EU for Rural Development, for the purposes of LEADER. As the deliverers of LEADER in Donegal we are greatly encouraged by today’s announcement of an increased allocation of €70 million to the end of 2022.”
“The LEADER Programme offers the ideal vehicle for the delivery of development funding to Rural Areas in the most effective manner. The allocation of this increased funding will deliver critical stimulus to Rural areas to help drive the post Covid recovery.
“Furthermore, the funding announced today will ensure that more vital projects in Donegal focused on climate change, digital transformation, remote working and enterprise development can be progressed in our rural communities throughout the country to meet the expectations of the EU in terms of the requirements of its Recovery funding criteria.”
In the coming weeks, the Department of Rural and Community Development will provide the breakdown of the increased allocation of €70 million to each of 29 Local Action Groups who deliver the LEADER Programme.
