LEADER grant aid of almost €8million will be invested in innovative community and enterprise projects throughout the county between now and 2020. The LEADER Programme is 63% funded by the EU & 37% by the Irish Exchequer and focuses on “promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas”.
Wexford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) in partnership with Wexford Local Development (WLD) has responsibility for the delivery of the new Programme in County Wexford under the remit of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.
Following a public consultation process across the county, a number of key objectives which focus on Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Rural Environment have been agreed. These objectives reflect the key challenges facing Co Wexford with regard to economic recovery, employment creation, tackling social exclusion and on a national level, reducing the impact of global warming and resource depletion. The objectives cover the key areas in need of the greatest support and are sufficiently broad and flexible to facilitate a wide range of projects throughout the county.
In a change from the rolling application process that applied during previous LEADER programmes, the new Programme will have competitive targeted calls for applications from different sectors at specific times throughout the duration of the programme. These targeted calls with pre-defined budgets will assist in ensuring that only the best and most worthy projects will be approved for grant aid.
In advance of the long awaited commencement of the Programme, WLD are hosting information meetings in Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross & Gorey during the coming weeks. Details of the priorities for funding as well as an overview of the new application process will be outlined. Interested individuals and community groups are strongly encouraged to attend.
The schedule of meetings is as follows:
• Brandon House Hotel, New Ross • Monday 12th September
• Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy • Wednesday 14th September
• Talbot Hotel, Wexford • Monday 19th September
• Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey • Wednesday 21st September
All meetings commence @ 8pm sharp.