COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 14, 2014

MOTION NO.21

MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins

That this Council calls on the Manager to engage with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that rural areas of our County can access funding from the new LEADER Programme 2014-2020; and
to ensure that the needs of rural areas in our County are adequately identified and addressed in a Local Development Strategy for the new LEADER Programme 2014-2020.

REPORT:

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2014 - 2020  (LEADER)

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government  is currently undertaking a targeted consultation exercise regarding the content of the LEADER elements of the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme and local authorities have been invited to participate in this process.  The consultation process primarily considered what actions should/could be delivered to best achieve the key priority (EU priority 6) for LEADER under this programming round:

             Promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas, with a focus on the following areas:

o       Facilitating diversification, creation and development of small enterprise and job creation:

o       Fostering local development in rural areas:

o       Enhancing accessibility to, use and quality of information and communication technologies (ICT) in rural areas.

 The overall draft Rural Development Programme for Ireland will be prepared and submitted to the EU Community by July 2014 with a  call for the submission of proposals (draft local development strategies) from Local Action Groups.The DECLG will hold a number of information sessions around the country to explain the requirements and advise on the preparation of Local Development Strategies.  The process of selecting Local Development Strategies will begin in the Autumn 2014 with a view to having all in place by mid-2015 at the latest. It is understood that the Minister's preference is that LCDCs will act as the LAG and prepare the Local Development Strategy for the next LEADER Programme, with local development companies (given their valuable experience and expertise), being the preferred partner contracted to deliver programme actions. DECLG intend to award 6-year funding allocations for the delivery of LEADER 2014-2020.

More detailed information on the arrangements for the new LEADER programme and the development of the new Local Development Strategies is anticipated to be provided to local authorities in the near future.  Once more information is available, South Dublin County Council and the newly formed Local Community Development Committee will work with the qualifying rural communities and community support organisations  in South Dublin County in the preparation of the Local Development Strategy to ensure that all potential opportunities are identified.