Rural voluntarism ‘devastated’ by cuts to Leader funding
Mr Roche said that the 2007 to 2014 Leader programme for Cork county was allocated €49m, but this has been cut to less than €14m for the 2015 to 2020 programme, a cut of more than 72%. He warns that rural Cork’s ability to create employment will be devastated as a result.
“The recent notice from the Department of Environment of funding for Co Cork under the Leader programme was a devastating blow to rural Cork, and a further indication of the slash and burn rural Ireland policy of the present government. The Leader programme has helped rural Ireland to survive over the last 20 years, with local voluntary community groups working with their communities, developing their own strategies. It’s time rural TDs woke up and fight for the 2.1m people living in rural Ireland,” he said.
