The new €250m LEADER programme will not open before June 2015 at the earliest. The Government continues to push to have the newly formed Local Community Development groups as the key players in managing the programme, funded from within the Rural Development Programme (RDP).

However, existing local development companies and other potential groups will be encouraged to submit applications when the process finally starts in January.

Initially it was hoped to begin last October, but the Rural Development Plan submitted to the EU raised many questions about how the Government was changing the implementation of the LEADER programme 2014-2020.

An update on the implementation has been circulated, following meetings between the European Commission, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) and the Department of Agriculture.

It stated that selection will be done in an open and non-discriminatory manner, but clearly stated the preference for the Local Community Development groups to manage the overall strategy – with the Local Development Companies a key implementation partner for each of the 28 sub-regional areas (down from 35).

After feedback from the EU, the letter stated that there will be no limit on the number of groups that can express an interest from within a sub-region.

Total funding available for the LEADER programme will be distributed across the 28 sub-regional areas based upon open and transparent criteria.

If more than one group emerges from an individual area, the available funding for that area will be shared. However, the minimum spend of any group has to at least €2m.

Each application will be considered by an independent Evaluation Committee, comprising an independent chair, DECLG and Department of Agriculture representatives and with external rural and local development expertise, serviced by Pobal.

Once selected, a group will have a minimum of six months to devise a local development strategy for the area.