Waterford Leader Partnership

INTRODUCTION

Funding towards LEADER-type activities in the 2007-2013 round of EU funding is part of the broader Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-13.  This Programme was agreed by the EU Commission on July 24th 2007, it contains four Axes and has a budget of €5.778 billion over a 7 year period of which €2.339 billion will be funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural development (EARDF) and €3.438 billion by the National Exchequer.

Axes 1 and 2 of the Programme (on-farm measures) are the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Axis 1 deals with Competitiveness and Axis 2 with improving the environment and the countryside.

Axes 3 and 4 contain the funding available for the delivery of LEADER-type activities, which at €425.4m is almost treble the funding of €150m for the previous LEADER round. This additional funding is a realisation by the Commission of the need for greater funding for rural development to be allocated to non-agricultural supports. Axes 3 and 4/LEADER-type funding now accounts for 10% of the E.U. funding for rural development under Ireland’s Programme.

The focus of Axis 3 of the Programme is on quality of life and diversification and the Government has decided that the measures it contains will be delivered using the LEADER methodology. This Axis is relevant to all rural dwellers, including farmers, particularly in view of the growth in part-time farming. The challenges in the wider context include the provision of alternative and suitable employment opportunities for people living in rural areas and a range of services that people now want and expect locally.  In the Programme, actions centred on the wider rural community such as the development of rural enterprises based on local natural resources, tourism, village enhancement and environmental initiatives will be delivered in a manner that addresses these challenges and complements on-farm measures. The measures in the Programme remain consistent with the 1999 White Paper on Rural Development and its commitments relating to the economic and social well-being of rural communities.

The LEADER element of the NRD Programme: Activities Allowed and Rates of Aid are:-