GRD Launch a Community Survey for the New LEADER Programme

Pictured are some of the community group leaders at Galway Rural Development’s LEADER consultation in the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe.

Galway Rural Development (GRD), who are preparing a Local Development Strategy to deliver the next LEADER Programme for the municipal districts of east Galway, have launched an online survey to give the people of East Galway their say on the priorities for the 2023-27 programme.

GRD have already held a number of well-attended community meetings in Athenry, Ballinasloe, Gort, Loughrea and Tuam in order to gather ideas and they have now launched an online community survey to ensure that everyone in the region has an opportunity to give their views and ideas etc.

Steve Dolan, CEO of GRD, said "We have been really pleased at the level of engagement and the ideas that we received at the different consultation sessions, but there may be people, organisations and businesses that missed the opportunity to attend so we would encourage them to log to it and have their say".

"The key to a good plan is to make sure it reflects the needs, opportunities and aspirations of the community, so getting insights and creating ownership of the plan at community level is important.  The survey can be accessed across our social media platforms or at surveymonkey.com/r/KVFNGVN."

GRD’s LEADER Manager, Conor Carty, added "This time around, the programme has a bigger focus on the environment, on climate change, as well as on rural infrastructure, social inclusion, business, and tourism. We at GRD are keen to encourage developments in these areas over the coming years."

The LEADER programme is a European Union initiative to support rural development projects initiated at the local level in order to revitalise rural areas and create jobs. The LEADER team can be contacted by email at leader@grd.ie.

The LEADER programme is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.