Mayo is to receive one million euro, out of a 20 million euro national allocation, of funding under the new Transitional Leader programme announced today.

Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary says it’s very welcome news as the present Leader funding is due to run out by the end of this month.

He admits the total allocation is down on previous years, but says it will be continually reviewed until the new Leader programme recommences in 2023.

The Transitional Leader programme, he explains, will bridge a gap between the wind-up of the current 2014-2020 programme and the start of the next EU programme.

Among the key features of the new programme is that funding will be provided in 2021 to the Local Action Groups for the on-going management and delivery of projects still running under the 2014-2020 LEADER programme.

In addition, the grant rate for enterprises and commercial projects will be increased from a maximum of 50% to a maximum of 75% to support enterprise development and job creation in rural areas.

While 1.1 million euro has been secured under the transitional Leader Programme for county Galway. Minister of State for Disabilities and Fianna Fáil deputy for Galway East, Anne Rabbitte days this is a pivotal funding source for groups across Galway. There were a lot of concerns around a shortfall in funding after April so the allocation of €695,986 to Galway East and €412,730 to Galway West is welcome news, she explained, as it will provide some relief to Local Action Groups.