The announcement of over €4million funding for rural development projects in Laois was celebrated at the official launch of the LEADER Local Development Strategy 2023 – 2027. Members of the community from across County Laois and beyond attended a packed event in the Laois Partnership Company headquarters on the New Road in Portlaoise. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO LEADER programme team at LPC from l – R Suzanne Wallace (Project officer); Brian Killian (Project officer); Brian Kelly (Rural Development Programmes Manager); Michelle Cummins (Admin officer) At the event they were welcomed by Laois Partnership Company CEO Caroline Lydon who was MC for the evening. Chairman, Laurence Phelan, outlined the company’s steadfast commitment to a bottom-up, community approach. He acknowledged the importance of ongoing collaborations with other agencies, particularly Laois County Council, in supporting local development projects across the County. The audience were then given a detailed overview of the LEADER strategy by Rural Development Programmes Manager Brian Kelly, who explained that the LEADER programme has been operating in Ireland and across EU Member States since 1991,with a keen focus on rural development. LEADER is a community-led approach to local development funded through Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027, financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) with funding administered via the Department of Rural andCommunity Development (DRCD). During the presentation, two previous beneficiaries of the LEADER project were introduced, so that they could share their experience and tips with other potential applicants. The first was Johanna Steenkist of Camross Parish Development Association, who received €70,691 grant aid to assist with the fit-out of a community building in Camross as a multipurpose village hub. Johanna delivered an informative presentation on the boon to the village that this funding provided, with the natural allure of Camross Community Park also
Over €4m boost for rural Laois development under newly launched LEADER scheme
Packed event marks the launch in the Laois Partnership Company headquarters in Portlaoise
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Guest speakers Johanna and Barry Fingleton
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CEO Caroline Lydon and Members of the Senior Management Team for LPC – Brian Kelly, Marion Griffith and Peter Ormond
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CEO and Members of the Board of Directors of LPC – Noel Gavigan; Mary Delaney; John Fitzpatrick; Trevor Stanley; Helen Gee; John Scanlan and Laurence Phelan (Chairperson)
