Calls for LEADER funds to be upped

THERE have been calls this week for the Government to have another look at the funding allocation for the rural enterprise LEADER programme through the course of the ‘new CAP’ period from 2023 to 2027.

The LEADER programme provides funding primarily for small rural enterprises and community projects, but according to critics of the funding allocation for 2023 to 2027, it means that resources for qualifying projects has either been ‘cut’ or ‘remains stagnant’.

Sinn Féin representatives in the West of Ireland have hit out at the level of funding as outlined in the new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), pointing to ‘a consistent decrease’ in the monies being allocated to LEADER.

Louis O’Hara, Sinn Féin candidate for Galway East, said that the LEADER funding was a vital aid for small rural enterprises and for the overall economic development of the western region.

“We have either seen funding reduced or stagnating in terms of the LEADER programme, when what we should be seeing is increased funding for something that is of very real benefit to rural Ireland,” said Louis O’Hara.

LEADER grant approvals in Galway are administered through GRD (Galway Rural Development) with monies totalling more than €620,000 offered to agri-business enterprises in the nine months up to the end of December this year.

According to GRD, some of the main beneficiaries of the grants were the Galway Wool Co-op; Killeen Farmhouse Cheese (near Portumna); Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese (Abbey, Loughrea) and Gra’s Chocolates (also close to Loughrea).

GRD also point out that many community groups have benefitted from different allocations with a total figure of €1.2m being approved for rural Galway enterprises in the last nine months of the year.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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