618. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the progress made in delivering the LEADER programme 2023–2027; the level of funding allocated to date to support rural enterprise development, job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects; the steps being taken to ensure that communities in all regions can access and benefit from this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54558/26]

The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s national rural development policy development. It supports a broad range of activities which respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.

LEADER is co-funded by the EU and is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.

The 2023-2027 LEADER programme has total funding of €180 million, with 75% or €135 million available to support projects being completed by rural groups and businesses.

Using this allocation, to date LEADER LAGs have approved funding of over €66 million for some 1,350 LEADER projects countrywide.

This includes:

• over €32 million approved for 625 projects under theme 1 of the programme covering Economic Development and Job Creation,

• some €26 million approved for 503 projects under theme 2 of the programme covering Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion, and,

• over €7.8 million approved for 228 projects under theme 3 of the programme covering Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

Of these, 420 projects have been completed to date, with the remainder due to be be completed over the coming months and years.

The €180 million also includes €45 million (or 25%) which is available to support the administration and animation costs of the LAGs involved in running the programme. This allows LEADER LAGs to engage with local community groups and enterprises through a bottom up approach to identify, develop and deliver projects. This direct support in communities is a central feature of the LEADER programme and helps to ensure that projects are approved in all areas, including within hard to reach communities, allowing communities in all regions to access and benefit from LEADER funding.