The current LEADER programme which runs from 2014-2020 has helped create 180 new full-time jobs in LEADER-supported enterprises.

A further 589 existing jobs have been sustained in a variety of sectors, while 6,600 young people have taken part in rural youth projects according to the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Since the start of this funding round in 2014, almost 2,000 projects have been approved for funding of €69m. Another 373 projects with a value of €2m are going through the approval process.

Total expenditure to date this year by the LEADER programme is €50m. Of this, just over €21m has been paid out to more than 800 LEADER projects.

Over 300 projects valued at €11.2m have been approved for funding so far this year under the LEADER Programme 2014 to 2020, according to an analysis by the National Rural Network (NRN).

Of the 327 projects approved so far in 2019, the value of the average LEADER grant approved is approximately €34,000. Funding approved in 2019 has been awarded to both large- and smaller-scale projects.

A total of 31 grants of over €100,000 have been approved in 2019 alongside 132 grants of less than €10,000.

In all, just about half of the available LEADER funding has been allocated. So if you have a potential project, there are still 18 months to make applications. Once approved, money can be drawn down up to 2023.

If you are interested then contact the Local Action Group in your area.

To find out where funding is available and if it’s a fit for your project contact details for these are available from the National Rural Network.

Three priority areas

The current tranche of LEADER funding is targeted at three priority areas which were identified in meetings on the ground to find out what people wanted.

So it’s very much a bottom-up strategy. What’s more, the LEADER budget is ring fenced and cannot be diverted into any other area.

Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation

The “Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation” is one of three themes being focused on in this funding round. A total of 212 projects, valued at €6.4m, have been approved so far in 2019.

Rural tourism projects make up the majority of these with 104 projects securing funding of €2.1m.

The enterprise theme accounted for the majority of projects according to Dr Maura O’Farrell, who is a lecturer in rural geography and the lead researcher for NUIG on the National Rural Network project.

The number of people involved, the ideas and the scope of the projects is unbelievable

Its job is to look at the rural development programme and identify good case studies that could be replicated and help reignite rural communities.

“The number of people involved, the ideas and the scope of the projects is unbelievable. Everything from a food enterprise centre, boat trip organisation, tidy towns, walkways even a woollen mill development.

Festivals can be important in building capacity in rural areas and also for small businesses. These are the soft projects that bring people into rural areas and help keep them there,” she says.

Maura cites the Mid Ireland Adventure established by Johnathon O’Meara as a really good example of the projects that are coming through.

“Johnathon is based around Offaly and he works alongside any natural amenity to provide adventure sports such as mountain biking tours, river trails on the Shannon and canoeing.

"We sent him forward for the Rural Inspiration Awards in Europe where he got to the finals. He is a really inspiring young guy with a fantastic project,” says Maura.

Social Inclusion

Another priority area is “Social Inclusion” and 96 projects valued at €4.4m have been approved under this theme so far in 2019.

These projects are to support hard to reach communities and rural youth. The latter have gained a lot of traction in relation to LEADER applications and that’s good news says Maura.

Rural Environment

The third priority area is “Rural Environment” which has seen 19 projects approved so far in 2019 with a value of over €360,000.

Here, we are talking about protection of water resources, bio-diversity and renewable energy.

Enterprise development and rural tourism projects are popular right across the country.

In Wicklow, funding has gone towards inspection of walking trails and social media training

In Kilkenny, there’s been funding for rural transport, food enterprises and a regional community shop project.

In Wicklow, funding has gone towards inspection of walking trails and social media training while in Limerick funding was granted for youth theatre education.

Overhyped

Maura says complaints over the amount of red tape surrounding LEADER applications is overhyped. “I wouldn’t get a bank loan without a share of paperwork so why expect LEADER to give money out without the same checks?

The Local Action Groups give great assistance to applicants whether they are groups or individuals. LEADER has 25 years of tried-and-tested procedures that are in line with the rest of Europe.

So far in 2019 Kerry has 42 projects approved to a value close to €1m

Yes, it may take a while for first time applicants but subsequent applications are much easier.”

Looking at the 29 Local Development Strategy areas, the number of approved projects varies. The average by area in 2019 so far is 11 projects valued at almost €385,000.

So far in 2019 Kerry has 42 projects approved to a value close to €1m.

One of the projects promoters was Valentia Trans-Atlantic Cable Foundation which received €17,819 for a Valentia Trans-Atlantic Cable UNESCO World Heritage Study.

Funding of more than €1m has been approved this year for 10 projects in Limerick. This includes a grant of €82,942 to develop the Ballyhoura Development Area Access to Music Initiative.

€250m budget

LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a budget of €250m to be allocated over the period 2014-2020. The amount of budget available for projects is almost €165m.

The remainder is allocated to cover the costs of the Local Action Groups (LAGS) delivering the programme and this includes their work with potential promoters to develop and bring forward applications for funding.

Administration costs cannot exceed 25% of the LAG’s budget over the lifetime of the programme. While all funding must be committed by the end of 2020, payments can, and will be made up to 2023 as projects are completed.

This is no different to the situation which applied under the previous LEADER programme.

Figures at a glance

• 180 full-time jobs.

• 589 existing jobs sustained.

• 2,000 projects approved.

• 373 projects in approval pipeline.

• €165m funding available.

• €69m approved.

• Funding applications open to end of 2020.

• To date just under 50% of funding has been allocated.