LEADER programme
Grant funding for rural projects, from small enterprises to community and environmental schemes. The amount depends on your project and your area's Local Action Group; there is no single fixed figure.
Last checked July 2026
What it is
EU-backed funding for rural enterprise, community and environment projects, delivered locally through Local Action Groups. It funds private businesses as well as community groups, under enterprise development, rural tourism, agricultural diversification, rural food and the green economy. For LEADER, rural means everywhere in Ireland except inside the boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. TWO CONDITIONS PEOPLE TRIP ON: you must show you can fund the matching contribution yourself to cover the full cost of the project, and you must keep it operational as funded for five years from the date of the final payment. Your project also has to fit the Local Development Strategy your area's group has written. You do not apply centrally: contact your Local Action Group or its implementing partner and register an expression of interest first. Current programme runs 2023 to 2027.
Who can get it
- Your project is in a rural area covered by LEADER and helps rural enterprise, community life or the environment
- You are a small rural business, a community group, a farmer diversifying, or a social enterprise
- You work with your Local Action Group, which decides what its area funds
- LEADER is delivered locally, not centrally: each area has a Local Action Group and a Local Development Company that manage the funding and set priorities.
- It is part-funded by the EU under the rural development strand of the Common Agricultural Policy.
- Talk to your Local Action Group early, they help shape an eligible application, and priorities differ from area to area.
How to apply
Applications go through DRCD. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 25 July 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
What does LEADER fund?
Rural enterprise, community and environment projects, from small business start-ups and diversification to community facilities and environmental schemes, in rural areas.
Who runs LEADER locally?
Local Action Groups, working with Local Development Companies, manage the funding in each area and decide the local priorities.
How much can I get?
There is no single fixed grant. It depends on the project and your area's Local Action Group, so talk to them early to shape an eligible application.
How do I apply?
Contact the Local Action Group or Local Development Company for your area. They guide you through what their area funds and how to apply.
Related guides
- CLÁR programme
- Local Improvement Scheme
- Town & Village Renewal
- Local Enhancement Programme (LEP)
- Outdoor Recreation Scheme
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