LEADER Programme 2023 -2027 launches with €5.8m to support businesses and communities in county Longford

Use the Arrows < > above to go through the gallery

Longford Local Community Development Committee, Longford County Council and Longford Community Resources Clg has announced the commencement of the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme which will support the development of rural communities and enterprises across the whole county. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

Since 1991 LEADER has made a significant contribution to economic and community development in Co Longford. Innovation is a key aspect of the LEADER programme and enables communities and businesses to initiate innovative approaches to tackle issues of rural disadvantage, unemployment, enterprise development, climate change and protection of the environment. It plays an important role in supporting job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.

Commenting on the launch of the 2023-2027 LEADER funding, CEO of Longford Community Resources, Adrian Greene said; “LEADER will give our local communities and enterprises an opportunity to respond to the emerging challenges for their areas and will support measures that provide employment, job creation and social inclusion throughout County Longford.”

In preparation for this programme Longford Community Resources, in conjunction with Longford Local Community Development Committee, carried out an extensive consultation process across Co Longford resulting in a Local Development Strategy with a set of objectives reflective of the needs expressed by communities and businesses in Co Longford. The objectives cover the key areas in need of the greatest support and are sufficiently broad and flexible to facilitate funding a wide range of projects.

Cllr Seamus Butler, Chairperson of Longford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) – the Local Action Group responsible for approving projects, acknowledged the commencement of the new programme. “On behalf of Longford LCDC, I am delighted to see the commencement of the new 2023-2027 LEADER Programme in County Longford. The new LEADER programme aims to build upon the achievements from previous LEADER programmes and to continue to support new ideas and initiatives from businesses and communities throughout County Longford”.

Between now and the end of 2027 Longford Community Resources as the LEADER implementing partner working closely with Longford LCDC and Longford County Council, will invest €4,350,000 in LEADER funding in innovative community and enterprise projects focusing on the following Themes:

2023-2027 LEADER Themes

Theme 1: Economic Development and Job Creation

Theme 2: Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion

Theme 3: Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

Paddy Mahon, CEO of the Longford County Council commented, “I wish to encourage local communities and businesses to make contact with Longford Community Resources to find out what LEADER has to offer. The funding available will ensure that more vital locally-led projects can be progressed in rural communities throughout County Longford.”

For further information on eligibility and how to apply please visit www.lcrl.ie/leader or contact a member of LEADER Staff in Longford Community Resources

Email: leader@lcrl.ie ; Telephone: 043-3345555

LEADER Explained

The LEADER programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched in 2021, which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It is a multi-annual programme for rural development co-funded by the EU through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan (CSP). The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting

communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.

As a community led local development (CLLD) approach, LEADER is a methodology that places the rural community at its centre. Groups of people representing defined geographical areas in the form of Local Action Groups (LAGs) are charged with identifying the challenges to development in their own communities and developing initiatives to address these challenges. Through Local

Development Strategies (LDSs), LAGs seek to facilitate participation by all parties who wish to contribute to this process, thus ensuring that each LDS is as representative of the community view as possible. Over the lifetime of their respective LDS, LAGs will support those initiatives they consider will have the greatest impact on their community’s development, thereby supporting the achievement of the aims and objectives of the LDS.

LEADER is supported through funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and will be delivered through the national co-financed CAP Strategic Plan (CSP)1 for the 2023-2027 period. LEADER supported actions will contribute to achieving the aims of the CSP Specific Objective as per Article 6(1)(h) of EU Regulations 2021/2115: ‘to promote employment, growth, gender equality, social inclusion and local development in rural areas, including bio-economy and sustainable forestry.’

Templemichael, Longford, N39 RH22 T: 043 3345555 Email address: leader@lcrl.ie Website:www.lcrl.ie