Duhallow Voices Needed: Petition Aims to Keep LEADER at the Heart of County’s Rural Communities

HELP US KEEP THE LEADER PROGRAMME ALIVE

The LEADER Programme has been instrumental in supporting local projects in Duhallow. By providing funding, LEADER has empowered local organizations and individuals to improve their communities. This support has led to increased economic activity, job creation, and enhanced quality of life for residents. Despite its successes the future of LEADER is at risk. The European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD) has launched a campaign to gather one million signatures on a petition advocating for adequate funding for the LEADER

Programme in the next EU Budget period. The LEADER petition is a call to action to recognise the importance of rural areas and to ensure they recieve the same opportunities as cities. The future of our rural communities depends on continued support and investment. Together, we can ensure a strong future for rural areas across Europe. Let’s make our voices heard and secure the funding needed for sustainable rural development.

IRD Duhallow is calling on your support. LEADER has had significant impact on the rural communities across Duhallow and people across the region are being asked to sign an online petition being run by The European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD), seeking to protect the future of dedicated funding to Duhallow’s rural communities.

The Importance of LEADER in Duhallow

In Duhallow, the LEADER programme has been a cornerstone of rural development, driving numerous projects that have significantly improved the quality of life for local communities. The programme’s impact is evident in the thriving local enterprises, improved infrastructure, and strengthened community bonds that characterise Duhallow today.

The LEADER programme’s importance in Duhallow cannot be overstated. It has been a driving force behind economic development, community empowerment, environmental sustainability, infrastructure improvement, and cultural enrichment.

The Future of LEADER

Despite its successes, the future of LEADER is at risk. As the EU prepares its next budget, it is crucial to act now to secure funding. ELARD’s petition is a call to prioritise participatory rural development in the next budget, aiming to gather one million signatures to demonstrate the strength and support for LEADER.

“The LEADER programme currently in place will run until the end of 2027, however the EU funding budgets for the period after 2027 are being decided by policymakers right now, and we are deeply concerned that there will be changes made to how LEADER/CCLD is funded into the future. We are concerned that the EU will prioritise funding for other areas over rural development, and we are urging the people of Duhallow to protect the future of their communities, and ensure their voices are heard by signing this petition which has been organised through the ELARD network. It takes two minutes to sign and taking action now will help us to ensure that rural communities in Duhallow will continue to receive the support they need to thrive and grow well beyond 2027.”

The petition is a Europe-wide campaign run by the European LEADER Association for Rural Development and is supported by the Local Development Companies Network. The petition calls on policy makers to:

1. Secure a stronger budgetary allocation in the next budget

2. Expand LEADER/CCLD beyond the Common Agricultural Policy to integrate it into cohesion policy, the Just Transition Fund, and digitalisation initiatives

3. Simply the funding process, with unified rules for financial management, auditing and reporting, amongst other actions.

The petition can be signed here: elard.eu/petition_en/ and is open until 6th June.

About The Petition

The Local Development Companies Network and local development companies around the country want to ensure the future of the EU-funded LEADER / CCLD (Community Led Local Development) programme and are asking Duhallow people to take a few moments to sign an online petition urging EU policymakers to sufficiently fund the programme into the future.

LEADER/CCLD is co-funded by the European Union (under the Common Agricultural Policy) and the Government of Ireland to support rural development in communities in Duhallow and throughout Ireland. LEADER/CCLD supports a range of projects including enterprise development, rural tourism and recreation, infrastructure, climate change programmes, and digital connectivity in rural areas, amongst others.

Europe cannot afford to leave its rural communities behind. Together we can ensure a strong future for rural areas across Europe.

How You Can Help:

• Sign and share the petition: Spread the word within your communities, businesses, and networks. https://elard.eu/petition_en/

• Engage on social media: Use your platforms to promote the petition.