Media Diary Notice: Monday, 15 November 2021
WHAT: The National LEADER Conference. This online event entitled 30 Years of LEADER – Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future will reflect on the past and current programmes, while also debating rural policy and practice via the next LEADER Programme. The event will be hosted by National Rural Network (NRN).
WHEN: Monday, 15 November, 9am to 1pm
WHO: The conference will hear from a wider range of stakeholders and experts in rural development, including:
- The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, T.D.
- Professor Mark Shucksmith OBE, from Newcastle University (keynote). Professor Shucksmith is a world-renowned expert on rural development.
- Iwona Lisztwan coordinator of the LEADER/CLLD approach in the European Commission in DG AGRI
- Kevin McCarthy, Secretary-General of the Department of Rural and Community Development
- Dr Brian Leonard (UCD)
- Dr Maura Farrell (NUIG)
- Dr Mary O’Shaughnessy (UCC)
- And representatives from several LEADER-funded projects.
Interviews available. Contact James Claffey at the National Rural Network on 087 281 9741.
About the current LEADER Programme
Since its launch in 1991, the LEADER programme has helped rural communities across the European Union to actively engage and to direct the local development of their area, through community-led local development. Activity in the current LEADER programme has continued to increase. As of the end of July, there were 4,636 LEADER projects approved with a total value of €191m. Since the Transitional LEADER programme came into effect on the 1st of April 2021, bridging the gap to the new LEADER programme in 2023, 203 projects have been approved for funding, worth a combined €8.3m. Moreover, some 146 projects are working their way through the approval process, which has an additional value of €8.32m. Despite the impacts of COVID-19, the LEADER Programme has continued to progress due to the resilience of the different actors involved in delivering LEADER. To learn more about LEADER funding, see: LEADER - NRN (nationalruralnetwork.ie)
About the NRN
The NRN is a membership network for anyone interested in rural development. It provides up-to-date information, case studies, seminars, and conferences to maximise the beneficial outcomes of 'Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 for rural stakeholders. The NRN, which is contracted under the EU co-funded Rural Development Programme, is managed by a consortium led by Irish Rural Link in partnership with The Wheel, NUI Galway, and Philip Farrelly & Co. For more information see www.nationalruralnetwork.ie or follow the NRN on Twitter
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