Laois Partnership Company has welcomed an increased government allocation of €70 million in 2021 & 2022 for the LEADER Programme.
They Laois group are a member of the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) who represent the 35 Local Development Companies (LDCs) and deliver the LEADER Programme nationally.
Laois GAA chairman Peter O’Neill is also the chairman of Laois Partnership and he says that his group have been calling on the government to utilise funding available from the EU for rural redevelopment.
He said: “Laois Partnership Company and ILDN have been calling recently for the Government to utilise funding available from the EU for Rural Development, for the purposes of LEADER.
“As the deliverers of LEADER in County Laois we are greatly encouraged by the announcement of an increased allocation of €70 million to the end of 2022.”
Catherine Cowap, Acting CEO of Laois Partnership Company says the money will be used to stimulate rural Laois areas to help with Covid recovery.
She said: “The LEADER Programme offers the ideal vehicle for the delivery of development funding to rural areas in the most effective manner.
“The allocation of this increased funding will deliver critical stimulus to rural areas to help drive the post Covid recovery.
“Furthermore, the funding announced will ensure that more vital projects in county Laois focused on climate change, digital transformation, remote working and enterprise development can be progressed in our rural communities throughout the country to meet the expectations of the EU in terms of the requirements of its recovery funding criteria.”
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