Funding

LEADER Funding – Ongoing

Since its inception in 1991, LEADER has provided grants to rural Ireland to direct economic and social development through community-led local development. It is based on the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development which empowers local communities to actively participate in decisions affecting their area.

LEADER funding is available under the following themes and sub-themes:

Theme 1 – Economic Development and Job Creation

  • The Green Economy

  • Agricultural Diversification

  • Rural Tourism & Recreation

  • Enterprise Development

  • Rural Food Production

  • Social, Community & Cooperative Enterprises

Theme 2 – Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion

  • Rural Infrastructure

  • Accessible Services

  • Optimising Digital Connectivity

  • Rural Youth

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

  • Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment

  • Climate Change Capacity Building

  • Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

To get a good insight into projects supported in the past, this booklet produced by CAP Network Ireland (formerly National Rural Network) has an excellent compilation of case studies:  LEADER Programme 2014-2020 Case Studies from Ireland. Hopefully you can gain some inspiration from that.

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