KERRY has received over €10m in LEADER funding.
Fine Gael TD for Kerry North/West Limerick Jimmy Deenihan, has welcomed a funding package of €10,219,868.29 for the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme announced by the Government.
“The economic recovery is underway and the Government is determined that the recovery is felt in every corner of Ireland. Investment in the LEADER programme is of huge significance to Kerry. “I know in Kerry there are any number of projects where funding is needed and will be of huge benefit,” said the Minister.
The LEADER programme is all about community led projects; it is focused on making the recovery local.
Once approval for the programme has been given by the European Commission, Local Action Groups of Kerry will be invited to submit ideas for how funding should be spent.
These groups will be set up in accordance with the EU Regulations and will consist of representatives across public and private socio-economic interests.
“We are committed to empowering rural Ireland, to giving the local people of Kerry the opportunity to identify where the LEADER programme funding should go and in controlling the allocation at a local level,” said Minister Deenihan.
“Due to the new Local Government Reform Act 2014, this money will be controlled at a local level and therefore the allocation of resources will be much more targeted, cost effective and efficient. Streamlining operations at a local level should maximise the funding available to support important projects and the local communities in Kerry,” he said.
