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LEADER

Rural Development Programme 2023-2027

Webinar Registration

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LEADER is an EU wide rural development programme which supports the sustainable growth and development of rural communities, businesses & rural environments. It is delivered by a network of Local Action Groups (LAGs) selected to implement Local Development Strategies for their respective geographical areas.

SECAD Partnership CLG is an Implementing Partner responsible for delivering LEADER supports:

  • in parts of the South Cork area on behalf of the South Cork LAG
  • in parts of the West Cork area on behalf of the West Cork LAG

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Every community in Cork County can potentially benefit from the LEADER Rural Development Programme. There are five Local Development Companies delivering LEADER in Cork, each with their own specific and distinctive area of coverage and only they can process applications for each project depending on the location of the project.

SECAD Partnership is delighted to announce that under the new Rural Development Programme 2023-2027, they will be supporting the distribution of:

  • over €1m for eligible enterprise and community projects in SECAD’s South Cork LEADER region
  • over €1m for eligible enterprise and community projects in SECAD’s West Cork LEADER region

LEADER Fund Local Priorities

Each Local Development Company must set key areas of focus and priorities that they will support through the LEADER Programme.  This reflects the fact that:

(i) these funds are limited and choices have to be made to target project types that will have the greatest impact for that particular area (in line with the Local Development Strategy)
(ii) they must be allocated to projects that meet local needs; and
(iii) allocated towards projects that are eligible for consideration within the LEADER Operating Rules and the overall LEADER programme priorities.

Additionally, under the current LEADER Programme, projects from groups or communities which have not received substantial LEADER funds in recent years are being prioritised.

Across the County, there will be differences in terms of the priorities which each local development company has focused on for their area.  There may also be differences in terms of which priority groups can be supported at this time, all of which reflects the fact that this is a limited budget.

The LEADER Application Process

The stages of the application process are as follows:

  • Stage 1 – Applicants asked to complete a simple Expression of Interest (EOI)
  • Stage 2 – Evaluation of EOIs for eligibility
  • Stage 3 – Eligible EOI applicants will be invited to submit a full funding application
  • Stage 4 – Application stage – submission of application form and supporting documentation
  • Stage 5 – Evaluation of full project application
  • Stage 6 – Award of funding and issue of funding contracts to successful applicants
  • Stage 7 – Project may commence

SECAD Calls for Expression of Interest for LEADER Projects

SECAD is delighted to announce two calls for Expressions of Interest under the following themes:

  • Call One – Economic Development and Job Creation – Targeted Call
  • Call Two – Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion Theme – Rolling Call

Further details on the specific call criteria and eligibility can be found by clicking on the link: SECAD LEADER Open Calls

The details on the specific call criteria and eligibility should be read carefully prior to completing or submitting an EOI.

Information Webinar

We will be holding a short information webinar on Thursday, 21st November at 11.00 am to give potential applicants an overview of the LEADER process and what is involved. Registration is essential and you can do so here:

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Webinar Registration

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If you are unable to attend this session, please note that it will be recorded and will be made available on our website for you to watch at your own convenience.

General Important Things to Note:

  • Due to the limited budget available, SECAD is currently only accepting EOIs from organisations and businesses who received less than €50,000 LEADER funding over the past five years.
  • Promotors should be aware that it is likely that the first round of this funding will not be awarded until Summer 2025. Any project activity undertaken or started prior to formal grant approval and the signed acceptance of the contract will not be eligible for LEADER funding.   Therefore, we are looking for projects that are not looking to commence expenditure until mid-2025 at the earliest.
  • Potential applicants should speak with a LEADER Development Officer prior to submitting an EOI to ensure your project is within SECAD’s LEADER area and to discuss your project and potential supports that might be available to you. To contact a Development Officer, please email leader@secad.ie and a member of the team will be in touch.
  • Completed EOIs should be submitted by email to leader@secad.ie.
  • A list of ineligible activities can be found below. Please read this list carefully and consult with your Development Officer if unclear.

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.

Copies of the 2023 – 2027 LEADER Programme Information leaflet can be downloaded by clicking here.

Copies of the 2023 – 2027 LEADER Programme Operating Rules Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan can be downloaded by clicking here.