Wexford Local Development are delighted with the news that the county has received a substantial allocation of €9.8m in LEADER funding for the period to 2020.

This funding was announced on 10th March by Alan Kelly T.D.,Minister of the Environment, Community & Local Government and Ann Phelan, T.D.,Minister of State for Rural Affairs and is part of a national budget of €250m for the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme, part funded by the EU (€150m) and the Irish exchequer (€100m).

LEADER is a community led local development methodology used to deliver Rural development interventions in Ireland since its inception in the early 1990’s. The funding is of huge significance to the county and during the next five to six years, it will be used to support sustainable economic development projects to include tourism, agri-food and niche rural business activities. The money will also be targeted at tackling social inclusion and rural isolation as well as increasing the capacity of rural communities in Co Wexford to address rural decline by participating in the economic development of their areas.

In line with the new Local Government Reform Act 2014, the funding will be controlled at local level in a targeted, cost-effective and efficient manner. A local development strategy for Wexford will be agreed in advance of the commencement of the new programme which is anticipated in late 2015.

Further details will follow in due course.