Over €13 million in LEADER funding has been awarded to community groups in Sligo and Leitrm.

A total of €13.6. has been allocated to groups in Sligo (€7.6m) and Leitrim (€5.9m) as part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Tony Mc Loughlin, welcomed the funding and said: "In total it will provide funding of €250 million to enterprises and community groups throughout rural Ireland. As our economy recovers it is essential that the Government puts in place measures to revitalise rural Ireland, so that the benefits are felt in every community in Sligo and Leitrim, and across the country.

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"The LEADER funding will be provided to projects that are selected by local action groups, made up of local representatives from both the public and private sector. The money will fund projects across a range of areas, such as enterprise development, rural tourism, enhancement of rural towns and the provision of basic services for hard to reach communities.

"This funding puts rural development back in the hands of local communities in Sligo and Leitrim and empowers them to address their own development needs."

(CD/MH)