Community consultation on new LEADER programme
Pictured on his visit to Kylemore Cheese recently was Minister Martin Heydon, Anne Kinsella of Teagasc and GRD Chairperson, Teresa Roche of Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese, and CEO of GRD Steve Dolan.
Galway Rural Development (GRD) has been selected by the Department of Rural and Community Development to develop a local development strategy for the LEADER 2023-2027 programme. In order to develop an inclusive strategy, GRD will be commencing a series of community consultations and focus group meetings.
The details for our five formal consultations at 7.30pm are -
Tuesday 14th March - Athenry - Raheen Woods Hotel
Monday 20th March - Loughrea - Lough Rea Hotel
Wednesday 22nd March - Ballinalsoe - Shearwater
Tuesday 28th March - Gort - Lady Gregory Hotel
Wednesday 29th March - Tuam - Ard Ri House
We will also hold informal sessions in Mountbellew and Headford where Smart Villages continues to take on a life of its own.
Anne Kinsella, GRD chairperson, said: “GRD has 30 years experience implementing a top-class LEADER programme in East Galway and we look forward to developing a LEADER plan that delivers for our people, place, and planet. The upcoming community consultations are an important step in that direction.
The new LEADER programme will support enterprise, job creation, rural infrastructure, social inclusion, rural environment, and climate action. Conor Carty, LEADER Manager said: “Our community consultation meetings are an opportunity for us to listen to and learn from community volunteers and groups with regard to their local assets, needs, and priorities.”
The meetings will be open to all and we are inviting the public to attend in order to shape the future of rural development in East Galway. We begin in Athenry on March 14th, followed by Loughrea and Ballinasloe, and then Gort and Tuam. Details of all our community consultation meetings are available on our website calendar and across our social media platforms.”
Also commenting on the public consultations, Steve Dolan, CEO of GRD, said “Together with our colleagues in Forum Connemara we want to hear the views on how the new LEADER Programme can fund and support communities and enterprises in the county. It is important to us that local communities and enterprises take this opportunity to have their say”.
LEADER is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU which operates a locally-led, bottom-up, approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas. GRD has previously been praised for their delivery of a reduced budget for the East Galway region.
For more details please contact Conor Carty (details below) or email: Leader@grd.ie
