SECAD Partnership is delighted to announce that under the new Rural Development Programme 2023-2027, we will be supporting the distribution of:
- over €1 million for eligible enterprise and community projects in SECAD’s West Cork LEADER region
- over €1m for eligible enterprise and community projects in SECAD’s South Cork LEADER region
SECAD Calls for Expression of Interest for LEADER Projects
There are currently two calls for Expressions of Interest under the following themes:
- Call One – Economic Development and Job Creation Theme – Targeted Call
- Call Two – Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion Theme – Rolling Call
Further details on the specific call criteria and eligibility can be found below and should be read carefully prior to completing or submitting an EOI.
Important Information
Before completing an Expression of Interest form, please go to the LEADER page to read the important information on the following:
- LEADER Fund Local Priorities
- The LEADER Application Process
- General Important Things to Note
Targeted and Rolling Calls
Under the LEADER Programme, an Expression of Interest (EOI) can be accepted on a ‘targeted call’ (competitive) basis or a ‘rolling call’ (‘first-come, first served’) basis.
Targeted Call
- Under a ‘targeted call’, an initial deadline is given for the submission of EOIs and a subsequent deadline will be given to eligible projects for submission of full funding applications.
- Following submission of full applications, eligible projects are evaluated together on a competitive basis and ranked in order of highest to lowest with funding distributed according to this ranking.
- The purpose of targeted calls is to allow LEADER to target funding at areas where it can deliver the most value, and where a comparative assessment is considered appropriate.
Rolling Call
- Under a ‘rolling call’, applicants can submit an EOI at any time.
- When the EOI has been assessed and deemed eligible, a promoter will then be invited to submit a full application.
- Funding under a rolling call will be allocated to projects on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
SECAD LEADER Targeted Calls
1. Economic Development and Job Creation Theme
Under the Economic Development and Job Creation Theme, SECAD Partnership invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) for capital investment projects that align with the call criteria outlined below.
- This call is part of a time limited, competitive, targeted call with an initial deadline for the submission of EOI forms set for 5.00 pm on Friday, 31st January 2025.
- Responses will be issued to EOI applicants within 15 working days.
- The final deadline for full applications (with all supporting paperwork and compliances) will be 5.00 pm on Friday, 7th March 2025.
Important Economic Development and Job Creation Call Details
- Projects must align with the call criteria outlined in either Section 1.a) or 1.b) below to be considered eligible under this call.
- Projects must be of a capital investment nature.
- Grant amounts will be in the region of €40,000 to a maximum of €75,000, with a maximum capital grant rate of 75% of total project costs.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate their potential contribution to the creation or sustaining of employment in rural areas, and their consideration of the broader needs, impacts and sustainability of their local community.
- Where required, planning permission must be in place, or in progress, at the time of submitting a full application for LEADER funding. Please note that priority will be given to projects where planning permission has already been granted at the time of full funding application.
- Full funding applications for eligible projects must be submitted no later than Friday, 7th March 2025.
| Deadline for Submission of EOIs: | Friday, 31st January 2025 |
| Grant Range (Max. 75% Project Cost): | €40,000 to a maximum of €75,000 |
| Proposed overall budget for this call: | €400,000 – South Cork €300,000 – West Cork |
| Notification of EOI Evaluation Outcome: | Friday, 7th March 2025 |
The following types of projects will be considered eligible under SECAD’s Economic Development and Job Creation Targeted Call:
1.a) Enterprise Development Projects:
EOIs are being accepted from SMEs or social enterprises implementing capital investment projects which will create or sustain employment in local communities and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. To be considered eligible, projects must be able to demonstrate their contribution to sustainable economic development and the green economy.
Enterprise Development projects will be considered under this call if they align with one or more of the following criteria:
- enterprise projects which incorporate positive climate action and mitigation measures
- investment in the development of sustainable, energy efficient and low-carbon businesses
- promotion of circular economy practices and waste reduction
- agri-diversification and artisan food projects which support and improve local supply chains
- social enterprises with a focus on building resilient communities
1.b) Tourism Projects:
EOIs are being accepted for capital investment in tourism projects which will add significant value to the economies and sustainability of rural areas under the following two themes:
i) Alternative Accommodation
Projects which will deliver cost-effective, alternative accommodation options to support the sustainable growth and development of the region’s tourism sector. Examples of this type of accommodation may include pod parks, camping, glamping, hostels, campervan / caravan parks, etc. Accommodation projects must be able to:
- demonstrate a gap in existing local tourism accommodation provision
- have the capacity to make a significant contribution to the local economy through increased visitor numbers and overnight stays
- support the region’s outdoor recreation offerings (e.g. walking, cycling, angling, etc.) marine tourism, eco-tourism, heritage, culture and food tourism
N.B. Hotels / B&Bs and single-unit self-catering are not eligible under this call.
ii) Tourism Attractions or Experiences
Projects which involve the development of tourism attractions or experiences in the areas of marine tourism, culture and heritage tourism, food tourism, eco-tourism, outdoor recreation and agri-tourism.
SECAD LEADER Rolling Calls
Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion Theme – Community Projects
SECAD Partnership is inviting EOIs from community and voluntary organisations who wish to develop legacy infrastructure projects that will serve as vibrant focal points for community activities, services, and innovative activity.
As this is a Rolling Call, funding will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis until such time as the budget is exhausted.
| Deadline for Submission of EOIs: | N/A. This is a Rolling Call (i.e. ‘first come, first served’ basis) |
| Grant Range: | €30,000 to a maximum of €200,000 |
Important Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion Call Details
The following points must be considered for all projects submitted under this call:
- Projects should be multi-purpose, cross-generational and promote social inclusion.
- Projects should demonstrate a strong link to the local environment, promoting biodiversity and using sustainable, climate-friendly materials.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate a need for the project within their community, a gap in existing infrastructure and the potential scale of impact relative to the local population. Priority will be given to communities that do not have existing or fit for purpose facilities of a similar type within their town or village.
The following types of projects will be considered under SECAD’s Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion Call:
- Development of multi-purpose, indoor community space / hubs
- Multi-purpose, outdoor amenity spaces and community parks
- Playground projects will be capped at a maximum grant of €100,000 and will only be considered if they comply with points a), b) and c) above.
- Trails and walkways with the potential to become an accredited trail on the National Trails Register (https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/trail-development)
- Capital investment for community arts, culture and heritage projects
- Technical expertise required to support the development of a significant legacy scale project
Ineligible Projects
Under the LEADER Operating Rules, funding shall not be awarded or paid in respect of the following:
- Primary Agriculture:
- For LEADER purposes, Primary Agriculture includes the breeding, keeping and sale of livestock (cattle, goats, horses, pigs, poultry, sheep and any animal kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur), the milking of livestock, the making and storage of fodder for livestock, the cultivation of land, the growing and harvesting of crops (including forestry and horticultural crops), fruit collecting, fishing and hunting and collecting forest fruit and herbs. It also includes the handling, transport and storage of primary products at their site of production.
- For added value or secondary processing of primary agriculture activities to be eligible, the activity must not involve growing or harvesting primary agricultural products. i.e. it must be a post harvesting activity.
- Primary Horticulture (including beekeeping):
- For LEADER purposes, Primary Horticulture means a branch of agriculture that relates to the cultivation, production, harvesting, and preparation for the market of fruit, vegetables, herbs, edible fungi, mushrooms, sprouts and/or sprouted seeds, nuts, edible flowers, cut flowers, foliage plants, hops, sports turf, honey, pot plants, bedding plants and herbaceous plants, nursery stock and Christmas trees, fruit trees, fruit bushes and fruit plants, bulbs, corms and tubers, ornamentals and lawn grasses.
- For added value / secondary processing horticultural activities to be eligible, the activity must not involve growing or harvesting. The activity must be post-harvest and add value, an example being, jam making, fruit processing.
- Community gardens, where there is no commercial activity involved are eligible to be considered for funding.
- Fisheries – commercial activities involving fisheries, including but not limited to fish farming, fish processing and fishing in general.
- Purchase of animals or livestock.
- Conventional retail operations, excluding community based shops and farm shops, outlets selling locally produced produce.
- Courses of instruction or training which form the part of normal education programmes or systems at pre-school, primary, secondary or higher levels up to and including FETAC & QQI Level 10.
- Private schools and colleges, Sudbury type schools, Montessori schools, Creches. Boards of Management of such institutions, all schools funded in any way by the Department of Education, including private schools.
- Research bodies.
- Continuous professional development courses.
- Loans.
- Working capital (including stock) funding for a training course provider to run their own course / training course provider getting funding to run a course and getting paid for it out of project funding aid.
- Operational Costs of Project Promoters – salary/overheads, etc.
- Insurance for project promoters.
- Payments for gifts, donations or personal entertainments, Small Benefit Tax Exemption, inducements to take part in training e.g. shopping voucher for attendance.
- Statutory fines and penalties, criminal fines and damages.
- Legal expenses in respect of litigation, except for those provided for under Section 14.5.
- Costs associated with meeting a legislative or statutory requirement.
- Planning application fees and other measures required for compliance.
- Reclaimable VAT.
- Improvements/refurbishment of private residential property.
- B&B’s that are part of a private residence.
- Cars, industrial / farm / construction vehicles, vans, buses, tractors, diggers, mini-diggers, excavators, forklifts, including trailers to transport such vehicles.
- General maintenance works of public bodies.
- Works that normally come within the remit of Local Authorities and / or is included in the development plan of a Local Authority.
- Childcare.
- Health Care & Health Care equipment – unless in exceptional cases where approved by the Department.
- Nursing homes.
- Housing.
- Race and sport horse industries, with the exception of ancillary activities for the provision of services to those industries (section 6.6.14).
- Greyhound Industry and activities that involve greyhounds, such as but not limited to, greyhound tracks, training facilities, and ancillary activities for the provision of services to those industries.
- Projects where products being funded are made outside Ireland and are kept outside Ireland.
Submitting an Expression of Interest
If you would like to submit an Expression of Interest, please fill out the appropriate form and return as a Word version to LEADER@secad.ie.
There are separate Expression of Interest Forms for South Cork and West Cork. If you are not sure if your project is in South Cork or West Cork, please send an email to LEADER@secad.ie and the team will help identify which are you fall into.
Once you have downloaded your form, please save it to your computer and save it as you fill in the different sections on the form.
Once you have submitted the Expression of Interest Form, your project proposal will then be assessed and if it is eligible in principle, you will be invited to submit a full application.
