EU backs 95% rural funding boost

FUNDING for big rural community projects has been boosted to 95% after the European Commission gave the go-ahead for local authorities to match aid from the €425.4 million LEADER rural development programme.

It is estimated this breakthrough will facilitate expenditure of an additional €21m of national funds in the LEADER programme.

For non-commercial projects the maximum LEADER aid available to date was 75%. But many rural communities were finding it difficult to raise the other 25% for village renewal, conservation of heritage, and basic services projects, according to sources in the Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív.