Tipperary Local Community Development Committee And Its Partners Deliver Almost €8million In Projects – Leader Programme

LEADER is a European funded programme to progress community and
economic projects with a view to improving economic activity and quality
of life in rural areas. The programme is delivered in a partnership approach
with North and South Tipperary Development Companies working as
implementing partners to support applicants through the process and the
LCDC and Tipperary County Council developing the strategy and ensuring
governance.

The current Leader Programme running from 2014 to 2020 delivered a
total of 204 projects with a total grant support of €7,997,584.

This grant funding has created infrastructure, provided much needed training and
supported enterprise to scale up, explore new markets, increase efficiencies and
sustain/promote increased employment.

Additional to this local scheme an additional €1.6 million of grants have been
funded through two national initiatives namely Food Initiatives and Cooperation
Projects (Projects across more than one LCDC area.

LCDC Chair, Councillor John Carroll recognized the significant benefits such a
significant investment into the County brings, he commended the great work
undertaken by the promoters in realizing these projects.

Cllr. Carroll was joined by the LCDC’s Chief Officer, Pat Slattery in recognizing the
hard work and commitment of the Management and Staff of both North and South
Tipperary Development Company to deliver such an ambitious programme, they
also thanked the staff of Tipperary County Council that are involved in the
programme.

Longer Term LEADER Programme and Direction

Work is currently commencing on the 2023-2029 LEADER Programme which will
again have broadly similar goals i.e. improving economic activity and quality of life
in rural areas. It is likely however that the focus will shift to delivering in areas such
as the green economy, an even stronger focus on the environment, SMART Towns
and Villages 1 supporting Enterprise to respond to the adverse impacts associated
with BREXIT and/or COVID 19. To optimise the use of Broadband, for the creation
of remote working hubs and using the digital economy for social enterprise. To date
the level of funding and the exact themes have not been confirmed.

Immediate LEADER Programme and Direction

In the interim the Department of Rural and Community Development has
announced a transitional Leader fund that will run from the 31st of March 2021 until
the 31st December 2022. The funding level for Projects within Tipperary for this
timeframe is €2,238,831. The objective of this interim fund is to support projects in
the following areas to prepare for the 2023-2029 Leader Programme.

  1. Supports to rural businesses seeking to reach new markets, expand, innovate
    and/or diversify in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and/or Brexit,
    with a particular emphasis on providing support to businesses in the food sector.
  2. Community based projects that seek to address the impact of the COVID-19
    pandemic.
  3. Supports and capacity building for communities that have not previously received
    assistance under LEADER or other rural programmes, using the Transitional
    Programme for the LAGs and Implementing Partners to engage directly with new
    applicants to develop projects and enhance collaboration within communities.
  4. Support for new and innovative projects in the areas of climate change,
    environmental protection and the green economy.
  5. Maximising the potential of broadband and the digital economy in communities,
    including through skills development and building awareness and usage of available
    remote working facilities.
  6. Projects that develop the concept of the Smart Village initiative or Rural
    Economic Development Zones (REDZs)2 which could serve as proof-of-concept for
    more substantia

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