€5.7 million for Laois community and business projects but county gets a lot less than Offaly

Laois is getting €5.7 million in funding from the Government and the EU to support community and business projects over the next five years but the amount received is less than neighbouring Offaly.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced the details of the €180 million LEADER Programme for 2023-2027.

LEADER, is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU which aims to meet the needs of rural communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups.

The Department said that when taken in conjunction with the transitional funding for Laois in 2021 and 2022, Laois receives €7.8m for the 2021-2027 period. It said that between 2014-2020, Laois had core programme funding €7.1m allocated.

Explaining the €600,000 difference with Offaly, the Department explained that a number of factors were considered. These included providing a minimum of €3 million base allocation to each sub-regional area with the remaining funding distributed based on the population and deprivation level of the area.

Offaly has been allocated €6.3m for the 2023-2027 period. The Department says that when taken in conjunction with the transitional funding for Offaly in 2021 and 2022, this gives a total LEADER allocation of €8.6m for Offaly for the 2021-2027 period. For the corresponding seven year period of 2014-2020, Offaly had core programme funding allocation of €8m allocated at the outset of the programme.

The Department added that all of the 2023-207 money will be allocated up front to LEADER areas which is a change from the 2014-2020 programme where €30m was withheld to fund initiatives delivered at a national level such as the Food Initiative and Cooperation Measure.

Laois Partnership Company has welcomed the €5.7 million for rural Development Programme. It delivers programme in Laois and Chairman Peter O’Neill said the new funding is a welcome boost to communities and individuals throughout the County.

"This is good news for the rural economy generally and for Laois in particular. We have been highly successful in running the Rural Development Programme and it’s predecessor, the LEADER programme in County Laois over the past 25 years. This funding brings the amount received in Laois to almost €30 million over the lifetime of the Programme.

"This announcement will ensure that the programme’s success will continue and will support businesses, communities, jobs and the quality of life in Laois,” he said in a statement.

Laois Offaly TD Sean Fleming, Minister of State in the Department of Finance, and his Government colleague Charlie Flanagan TD also welcomed the money.

"Laois Partnership have been doing excellent work in running the LEADER programme in County Laois in recent years and I look forward to them continuing in this role for the coming period 2023-2027.

"I look forward to Laois Partnership applying and being approved to continue in their existing role in administering this new round of funding.

"Rural development and supporting rural enterprises is a core belief and value for myself and Fianna Fáil.

"Funding streams like LEADER are imperative to supporting rural communities and enterprises across Laois and has been a very successful project for Laois.

"I look forward to the successful implementation of the €5.7 million LEADER programme for Laois commencing as early as possible in the new year," he said.

Fine Gael's Dep Flanagan speaking said this investment will support thousands of locally led rural development and enterprise projects in Laois over the next five years.

"The LEADER Programme in Laois has been a great success over the last 30 years and has played a central in supporting our rural communities and enterprises,” he said.

Minister Humphreys announced that interested parties will have until Friday 16th December 2022 to submit their Expression of Interest (Stage 1).

All groups that are successful in Stage 1 will be provided with funding to assist with the costs associated with developing a Local Development Strategy in Stage 2 of the process. A fund of €2 million has been ring-fenced for this purpose which will commence in early 2023.

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Interested parties can now apply by visiting the Department’s website and downloading an application form via the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/ 87e09-leader-programme-for- rural-development/

Completed Expressions of Interest forms must be submitted by email only to leader2327@drcd.gov.ie no later than 5.30pm on Friday 16th December 2022.

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The Department of Rural and Community Development will host an information webinar for all interested parties on 10th November 2022.