Leader Programme For Rural Development
Get funding for economic growth
Provided by Department of Rural and Community Development
How to apply
Apply on the official National Enterprise Hub listing — applications and eligibility are administered by Department of Rural and Community Development, not Tenderwatch.
Apply on neh.gov.ieAbout this support
LEADER is a community-led approach to local development funded through Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027. The 2023-2027 LEADER Programme can fund the following enterprise types; green economy, agricultural diversification, rural tourism & recreation, innovative enterprise development, rural food production and social, community and cooperative enterprises. Funding is available for all rural areas. For the purposes of the LEADER programme in Ireland, rural areas are defined as all parts of Ireland with the exception of the areas within the boundaries of the five main cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Galway.
Who is it for?
You may be eligible if: Your enterprise (including a social enterprise) is located in a rural area defined as 'all parts of Ireland with the exception of the areas within the boundaries of the five main cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Galway. To be eligible for LEADER funding, a project must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area, and it must comply with the operating rules and EU regulations in place for the programme.
At a glance
- Provider
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Type
- Grant
- Categories
- Grants
- Industries
- Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing, Construction, Design & Crafts, Energy, Financial, Healthcare, Transport & Storage, Retail, Real Estate, Professional Services, Manufacturing, Information Technology
- Business size
- Between 10-49 Employees, Between 50-249 Employees, Less than 10 Employees
- Source
- National Enterprise Hub
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Auto-imported from neh.gov.ie. First seen 7 May 2026; last verified 7 May 2026. Always check the official listing on the National Enterprise Hub before applying — eligibility and amounts change without notice.