Leader companies and IFA must work together for rural development

Leader companies and the IFA must work in partnership as plans are put in place for the next Rural Development Programme, says the Irish Local Development Network.

“The current Rural Development Programme comes to an end this year and we have called on both Minister Hogan and Minister Coveney to secure 10% of the Rural Development Programme funding for Leader,” said John Walsh, chair of the network, the representative body for local development companies.

“Local development companies are fully aware that the next round of funding will be less than the current round, however, it is important a reasonable level of funding is ring-fenced for rural communities to deliver social and economic projects in their areas, many of which will be linked to the farming community.”