Regional Development Conference

EU Context

Finola Moylette

Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

17 July 2015

Outline of Presentation

• EU 2020 - Rural Development Policy

• LEADER 2014 – 2020

• Investment in Agriculture and Rural Development in particular

Europe 2020 Strategy

Future economic growth should be Smart, Sustainable, Inclusive

Policy overview 2014 - 2010

EU 2020 Policy overview

Focus on 5 ambitious goals setting headline targets for1. Employment

75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed

2. R&D / innovation

3% of the EU's GDP (public and private combined) to be invested in R&D/innovation

3. Education

Reducing school drop-out rates below 10%

at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education

EU 2020 Policy overview

• 4. Climate change / energy

greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 20% (or even 30%

20% of energy from renewables

20% increase in energy efficiency • 5. Poverty / social exclusion

at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion

Common Agriculture Policy

In line with Europe 2020 The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which is supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) has set 3 long-term strategic objectives

-Improving the competitiveness of agriculture;

-The sustainable management of natural resources and climate action;

- A balanced territorial development of rural areas.

2014-2020 Changes to the EAFRD Regulatory Framework

Moved away from the Axis structure of the 2007-2013 period

Based on 6 priority areas

Each priority also has a number of specific focus areas

3 Cross Cutting Themes:

• Innovation, Climate Change and Environment

Rural Development PrioritiesSix Priorities for Rural Development

1. Fostering knowledge transfer in agriculture, forestry and rural areas;

2. Enhancing the competitiveness of all types of agriculture and enhancing farm viability;

3. Promoting food chain organisation and risk management in agriculture;

4. Restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry;

5. Promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy in agriculture, food and forestry sectors; and

6. Promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.

LEADER

- LEADER is specifically programmed under priority 6: promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.

-Each RDP priority is further defined by a number of specific focus areas.

-Focus Areas for LEADER: Priority 6:

- Facilitating diversification, creation of new small enterprises and job creation;

- Promoting local development in rural areas;

- Enhancing access to, use and quality of ICT in rural areas

LEADER 2014-2020

•A Community Led Local Development (CLLD) approach, LEADER assigns the decision making for project funding to Local Action Groups however indicative themes are outlined in the Operational Programme.

•These themes have emerged as areas of concern from the consultation process and SWOT analysis including the 2014 report of the Commission on the Economic Development of Rural Areas – CEDRA.

•Designed to support Local Development Strategies to address the strategic goals of Europe 2020 and national development priorities.

Operational Programme 2014-2020-LEADER

•The SWOT and needs analysis identified a number of challenges in rural Ireland for which a community led local development methodology such as CLLD or LEADER is an appropriate delivery mechanism. •Involvement of all members of the community in the development process and the need to ensure that rural development interventions are an integral part of all plans and policies designed to address local development.

•The new Operational Programme is More flexible: Projects that support the aims and objectives of the LDS will be eligible.

Indicative Themes

• 1. Enterprise Development and Job Creation– Rural Tourism - rural recreation, adventure and food tourism, culture, heritage– Enterprise Development – Artisan Foods, Renewable Energies, Social Enterprise– Broadband – increased access, training and capacity building– Rural Towns – integrated initiatives to support towns and their hinterlands

• 2. Social inclusion through building community capacity, training and

animation– Basic services targeted at the to reach communities– Rural Youth

• 3. Rural Environment– Protection and sustainable use of water resources– Protection and improvement of local biodiversity– Development of renewable energy

LEADER 2014-2020 time line

LEADER Local Development Strategy

Selection Process 2014-2020

Stage Indicative Date

Stage 1: Expression of Interest Complete in July 2015

Stage 2: Invitation to Submit LDS Complete in July 2015

Assessment of LDS On-going from Aug/Sect 2015

Approval of LDS On-going from end Sept 2015

Commencement of LDS On-going from end Sept 2015

Total CAP Funding 2007 – 2013

Nationally Western Region

Total €16,533.16m €5,244.41 = 31.72%

Average no of recipients annually

137,605 55,603 = 40.41%

Average annual payment €14,995 €11,848 = 79%

Funding on a County Basis

County Total paid (M)

Average Number Paid

Average payment

CLARE 756.68 6,770 13,946.96DONEGAL 854.38 8,947 11,934.73GALWAY 1,278.04 13,309 11,983.77LEITRIM 356.91 3,930 11,318.37MAYO 1,018.61 12,289 10,347.51ROSCOMMON 585.82 5,902 12,382.89SLIGO 393.96 4,456 11,026.85 Total  5,244.41  55,603  11,848.73

RDP 2007 – 2013 Funding

• €5.778 billion in total

• €2.339 billion funded by European Agricultural Fund for

Rural Development (EAFRD)

• €3.438 billion by the National Exchequer

• €425m to LEADER originally – final estimate €370m

• € 116m to the Western Region - 31.35%

Breakdown by LAG

LAGRevised Axes 3 & 4 Allocation

Project Commitments

Amount Paid Projects

Clare Local Development Company Ltd. €16,175,841 €12,227,391.00 €11,905,871.00       Inishowen Development Partnership €7,410,663 €5,814,768.65 €5,791,797.02Donegal Local Development Company Ltd. €13,065,427 €9,638,086.56 €9,615,359.32       FORUM Connemara Ltd. €7,925,982 €4,908,458.94 €4,655,110.08Galway Rural Development Company €12,512,676 €9,448,657.33 €9,172,736.88Comhar na nOileáin Teoranta €7,218,571 €5,700,230.96 €5,245,406.43

Leitrim Integrated Development Co Ltd €10,257,659 €7,921,015.41 €7,748,591.83

Roscommon Integrated Development Company €11,230,957 €8,241,941.12 €7,995,244.04Sligo LEADER Partnership Company Ltd €9,788,645 €7,547,146.90 €7,455,896.99       Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. €9,605,562 €7,540,716.36 €3,956,738.02

South West Mayo Development Company Ltd €10,658,727 €8,219,528.88 €7,827,130.16Total €115,850,710 €87,207,942 €81,369,882

Financial Allocations RDP 2014-2020

• Total Allocation of €2.19billion over 7 years (EU contribution)

• €313 million per annum to Ireland under Pillar 2/EAFRD fund

• Co-Funded by the Exchequer

• 7% allocated to LEADER (Minimum 5%)

• €153 million EAFRD allocated to LEADER over 7 years

• Co-financing rate for LEADER 65%.

• LEADER programme complement €250million (€10m co-operation, €5 million Artisan Foods), €5m REDZ

Financial Allocations in the Western Region

Clare €8,920,224

Donegal €12,913,877

Galway €12,195,883

Leitrim €5,998,474

Mayo €11,121,431

Roscommon €8,852,659

Sligo €7,655,647

Total €67,658,195 (30.75%) of €220m

Thank you.