Welcoming the announcement, Brian Kehoe, WLD CEO said, ‘Wexford Local Development and the the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) have been calling recently for the Government to utilise funding available from the EU for Rural Development, for the purposes of LEADER.

‘As the deliverers of LEADER in County Wexford we are greatly encouraged by today’s announcement of an increased allocation of €70 million to the end of 2022.’

Mr Kehoe explained the importance of the LEADER programme and the impact its funding had on small, rural communities throughout Wexford.

‘The LEADER Programme offers the ideal vehicle for the delivery of development funding to rural areas in the most effective manner. The allocation of this increased funding will deliver critical stimulus to rural areas to help drive the post-Covid recovery,’ he said.

‘Furthermore, the funding announced today will ensure that more vital projects in County Wexford focused on climate change, digital transformation, remote working and enterprise development can be progressed in our rural communities throughout the county to meet the expectations of the EU in terms of the requirements of its recovery funding criteria.’