Written answer
Rural Schemes
The Minister said the 2026 LEP process involved LCDC decisions submitted in April and departmental review before the July announcement, with €186,553 awarded to 73 Offaly projects. No additional support is planned for unsuccessful applicants, who were not barred from applying to other schemes and are encouraged to pursue future opportunities.
4153. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if targeted supports or alternative funding pathways will be provided for groups in County Offaly that were unsuccessful due to the delayed LEP decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62197/26]
Comment on this
4154. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reason decisions on the LEP fund, opened in January 2026, were only published in July 2026; if this delay caused groups in County Offaly to miss alternative funding calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62196/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4153 and 4154 together.
The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) provides small capital grants to community and voluntary groups for the improvement/refurbishment of their facilities and/or the purchase of equipment and is delivered in every county in Ireland. It is targeted towards supporting communities that are impacted by disadvantage, as identified in the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) of the relevant local authority. In general, support under the LEP is available to any not-for-profit community or voluntary group. Commercial organisations and individuals are not eligible for funding.
The Local Enhancement Programme for 2026 was announced on 5 December 2025 and provided €7 million in capital supports to small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas. The LEP is administered on behalf of my Department by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority.
Community groups were invited by Local Authorities to submit applications for LEP 2026 funding by 27 February 2026. Each LCDC is responsible for deciding the projects that are funded under LEP 2026, and they were required to submit the list of successful projects to my department by 22 April 2026. My department then reviewed the 4,144 projects that were approved by the LCDCs and I announced the final list of successful projects on 2 July 2026. This year's announcement included funding of €186,553 supporting 73 projects in Offaly. The full list of successful projects is available on my department’s website.
The rules of the LEP do not preclude community groups in Offaly from applying for funding under other funding calls. The rules state that LEP funding can be used in conjunction with other grants and it is the responsibility of the grant applicant to ensure that using LEP funding to co-fund a project does not contradict the rules of the other schemes/programmes.
There are currently no plans to provide additional funding for community groups that were unsuccessful under the LEP 2026. However, the Department is currently considering an LEP for 2027 and I would strongly encourage all community groups in Offaly to apply for funding.
In general, the Department would encourage all community and voluntary organisations to check the Department's website regularly and engage with their LCDCs, Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of all existing funding opportunities.