Hundreds of future jobs and rural tourism projects in County Clare are in jeopardy due to an underfunded LEADER programme and proposed changes to the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2028 to 2034, according to Deputy Joe Cooney.
In a submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, made as part of Ireland’s preparations for negotiations on the next CAP, the Clare Fine Gael TD called for a ringfenced LEADER budget, sufficient funding to maintain the community‑led model and the retention of local autonomy for groups to meet the needs of their areas.
“The contribution of LEADER to the development of sustainable rural areas and to building rural resilience is significant,” he said. “Its impact on sustaining the rural economy and protecting the environment cannot be underestimated. While existing funding streams remain severely limited, there is the added concern that reforms to the CAP, including a change to the funding model, for the LEADER Programme will further reduce resources available to Local Development Companies across Ireland.”
Deputy Cooney said the ongoing funding crisis for small rural tourism projects underlines the importance of securing a stronger framework for LEADER in the next CAP.
His submission followed a sitting of the committee at which the chief executive of Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) warned that all LEADER tourism funding in the county will cease in December and that no replacement scheme is in place.
Doirín Graham, whose appearance along with other LEADER representatives was arranged by Deputy Cooney, continued, “For the next three years, there is no small rural tourism project in the county that will be able to access public funding, LEADER funding or any other funding. There is nothing to replace that. That would be similar in many parts of the country.”
Ms Graham added that tourism is vital to Clare and to many LEADER areas, yet the current programme is underfunded.
“We have ten excellent, high‑quality tourism projects that we could fund in the next year, but we will not be able to. Tourism is such an important part of the development of rural economies. It reaches places that a lot of other developments do not,” she said.
In response to Deputy Cooney’s question about the threat to tourism employment posed by a reduction in available funding, Ms. Graham said, “Employment is definitely going to be affected. It is into places where there are no other opportunities for jobs.”