The Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020
2014 – 2020
Omagh Local Action Group using the LEADER approach.
Fermanagh & Omagh Local Action Group
Strule House
Omagh
Co Tyrone
BT78 1BQ
Tel: 028 8225 0202
Email: claudine.mcguigan@fermanaghomagh.com
LEADER is a European Community Initiative for assisting rural communities in improving the quality of life and economic prosperity in their local area. The Leader approach, also known as Priority 6, is not a separate fund or set of objectives. Instead, it is a delivery mechanism through which money allocated to the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 can be spent.
What is LEADER?
Priority 6 or LEADER is the way that decisions are made about what projects are funded under the Priority 6 Schemes. The decisions are made by local people about their own areas based on the premise that they are the ones who know best what their local area needs and what projects will best fill that need. The aim of the Leader approach is to increase the capacity of local rural community and business networks to build knowledge and skills, innovate and co-operate in order to tackle local development objectives.
To make this possible Priority 6 set up ten Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the LEADER Schemes on behalf of the department. LAGs are voluntary and are made up of local government representatives and social partners.
Each LAG has been allocated a rural development budget to enable them to pursue the strategic objective set out in the Local Rural Development Strategy they compiled for the area they represent.
Funding from the LEADER Schemes
The Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 aims to improve the quality of life in rural areas by supporting a wide range of projects including:
Rural Business Investment Scheme
Support for investments in creation and development of non-agricultural micro and small business activities.
Further information:
Rural Basic Services Scheme
Support for investments in the setting up, improvement or expansion of local basic services for the rural population including leisure and culture, and the related infrastructure.
Rural Broadband Scheme
Support for community lead broadband infrastructure, including its creation, improvement and expansion, passive broadband infrastructure and provision of access to broadband and public e-government.
Village Renewal Scheme
Support for drawing up and updating of plans for the development of municipalities and villages in rural areas and their basic services and of protection and management plans relating to Natura 2000 sites and other areas of high nature value.