RURAL communities in Donegal are set to benefit from a €3.8m funding boost.
Minister Heather Humphreys has today published the funding allocations being provided to each of the 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs).
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal TD, Charlie McConalogue, today welcomed the announcement of details of the allocation of the €3.8m funding to the Donegal Local Action Group under the Transitional LEADER programme for the period 2021-2022.
The Minister said: “Following the launch of Our Rural Future by the Government last week, today my colleague Minister Humphreys announced the funding allocation for the Donegal LAG for 2021-2022.
“The allocation of €3.8m is the highest allocation in the country and is much welcomed funding for Donegal which will help the LAG to continue its fantastic work in assisting rural communities in Donegal. This is further proof of focus this Government is putting into rural Ireland and it is a key priority of mine in Government.
“The new programme is now open for applications and I would encourage communities and local enterprises in Donegal who wish to avail of funding to make contact with the Donegal Local Development Company”.
Leader is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU which operates a locally-led, bottom-up, approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses.
The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas.
Lesser forms part of Ireland’s multi-annual Rural Development Programme which is co-financed by the EU and is part of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
The Leader programme is delivered by 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas. These groups are partnerships of public and private entities from a defined geographical area. LAGs are responsible for identifying and helping to develop local projects which support the themes of Economic Development (including enterprise development and job creation), Social Inclusion and Rural Environment.
Of the €70 million, €65 million is being allocated across the 29 LAGs, €3 million is being allocated to support Co-operation projects and innovation between LAGs and €2 million is being provided to support the development of the next Leader Programme.
