35 Years of LEADER Supporting Rural Development in Ireland
Ireland’s rural communities are marking a significant milestone this year as the LEADER Programme reaches its 35th anniversary. Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has congratulated LEADER groups across the country for their sustained contribution to local development since the programme was first introduced in 1991.
Launched by the European Commission on 15 March 1991 by Irish Commissioner Ray MacSharry, LEADER was designed to address the challenges facing rural areas that traditional policy approaches had struggled to resolve. From the outset, the programme adopted a community-led model that places decision-making power in the hands of local people, enabling communities to identify their own priorities and shape development strategies that reflect local needs.
Over the past three and a half decades, the LEADER model has become a central pillar of rural development policy in Ireland. Its bottom-up approach allows Local Action Groups (LAGs) to work with community organisations, businesses and individuals to support projects that strengthen local economies, enhance infrastructure and improve quality of life in rural areas.
Minister Calleary acknowledged the programme’s long-term impact and the many organisations and volunteers who have contributed to its success.
“The LEADER programme has been a cornerstone of rural development policy in Ireland for 35 years. I want to thank all the stakeholders who have been involved over the years; you should all be very proud of what you have achieved to date. I also want to acknowledge former Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Ray MacSharry for his foresight and leadership during his tenure, which saw major reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy.”
According to the Minister, LEADER funding has enabled rural communities to deliver meaningful change through locally driven development initiatives.
“Grant aid awarded under the LEADER programme has played a critical role in empowering communities across rural Ireland by providing community groups, businesses and individuals with the resources required to direct local development in their own areas. This has helped communities address specific local challenges, strengthen resilience, support job creation and improve social and economic wellbeing.”
The current LEADER Programme for 2023–2027 is now gaining momentum. To date, more than 1,000 projects have been approved nationwide, with funding exceeding €50 million. These projects span a broad range of initiatives involving community organisations, social enterprises and rural businesses.
The programme operates through a network of 33 Local Action Groups working across 28 sub-regional areas. These groups implement Local Development Strategies designed to respond to local priorities within a national framework.
Funding under the current programme focuses on three broad themes: economic development and job creation, rural infrastructure and social inclusion, and the sustainable development of the rural environment including climate action. With a total budget of €180 million, the programme continues to play an important role in supporting enterprise, strengthening communities and improving services in rural Ireland.
LEADER is funded as part of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and has evolved through several programming periods since its launch. The programme began with a pilot phase known as LEADER I between 1991 and 1993, followed by LEADER II from 1994 to 1999 and LEADER+ from 2000 to 2006. From 2007 onwards, LEADER became an integral part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, continuing through the 2014–2020 period and a short transitional phase between 2021 and 2022 before the launch of the current programme.
Looking ahead, the future of LEADER will be closely linked to the next phase of the Common Agricultural Policy beyond 2027. The development of the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework and CAP regulations will determine the funding and structure of rural development supports across Europe.
Minister Calleary confirmed that Ireland will continue to advocate strongly for LEADER within these negotiations.
“The development of the CAP post-2027 is a matter of significant importance for my Department. As these EU negotiations progress, I will continue to advocate for the LEADER programme to remain a core element of the new CAP framework and for the continued prioritisation of a well-funded LEADER programme in the coming years.”
Further information on the programme is available through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s LEADER webpage at gov.ie.
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