LEADER Operating Rules Rural Development Programme Ireland 2014 – 2020 Consolidated Updated Version 3.0 25 April 2019 Table of Contents Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Acronyms and Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 7 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 9 2 Policy Context .............................................................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Policy Framework ................................................................................................................................. 10 2.2 LEADER Approach ................................................................................................................................. 11 2.3 The Local Development Strategy ......................................................................................................... 12 2.4 Regulatory Framework ......................................................................................................................... 12 3 LEADER Themes and Areas Eligible for funding...................................................................................... 15 3.1 Applicable Geographical Areas ............................................................................................................. 15 3.2 Programme Themes and Sub-Themes ................................................................................................. 15 3.3 Theme 1 – Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation ............................... 16 3.4 Theme 2 – Social Inclusion ................................................................................................................... 19 3.5 Theme 3 – Rural Environment .............................................................................................................. 20 3.6 Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZs) ...................................................................................... 22 3.7 LEADER Food Initiative.......................................................................................................................... 22 3.8 Cross-Cutting Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 23 4 LEADER Implementation Structure ............................................................................................................ 24 5 Local Action Groups Governance and Management Arrangements ...................................................... 26 5.1 Key LAG Implementation Tasks ............................................................................................................ 26 5.2 LAG Responsibilities .............................................................................................................................. 27 5.3 LAG Governance ................................................................................................................................... 28 5.4 Conflict of Interest ................................................................................................................................ 30 5.5 LAG Evaluation Committee .................................................................................................................. 32 5.6 Amendment to Local Development Strategy- ..................................................................................... 34 6 Project Application and Assessment Arrangements ............................................................................... 35 1 6.1 Expressions of Interest (EOI) and Application ...................................................................................... 35 6.2 Targeted and Rolling Calls for EOIs ....................................................................................................... 36 6.3 Eligibility of the Beneficiary .................................................................................................................. 38 6.4 Project Assessment ............................................................................................................................... 39 6.4.1 Procedures for building and land-use change .................................................................................. 46 6.5 Fragmentation of Projects .................................................................................................................... 50 6.6 LAG as Project Promoter or ’In-house’ Projects ................................................................................... 50 6.7 Approval and Refusal of EOIs and Project Applications ....................................................................... 51 6.8 Provisional Approval ............................................................................................................................. 51 6.8.1 Provisional Approval pending procurement being completed ......................................................... 52 6.8.2 Provisional Approval pending full planning permission being granted ............................................ 53 7 LEADER Co-operation Projects .................................................................................................................. 55 7.1 Co-operation ......................................................................................................................................... 55 7.2 Selection of Inter-territorial and Transnational Co-operation Projects ............................................... 55 7.3 LEADER Co-operation project Operating Rules ................................................................................... 55 8 Commitment of LEADER Funding .............................................................................................................. 56 8.1 Grant offer ............................................................................................................................................ 56 8.2 Project commencement ....................................................................................................................... 57 8.3 Revising Funding Allocations ................................................................................................................ 57 8.4 Expiration of Contracts ......................................................................................................................... 58 8.5 Revocation of the Funding Offer .......................................................................................................... 58 9 Funding (Grant) Amounts ........................................................................................................................... 60 9.1 Minimum Funding (Grant) Threshold .................................................................................................. 60 9.2 Project Grant Aid .................................................................................................................................. 60 9.3 Projects involving different Rates of Grant Aid .................................................................................... 62 10 Project Matching Funding ........................................................................................................................... 64 10.1 Sources of Matching Funds .................................................................................................................. 64 10.2 Private Matching Funds ........................................................................................................................ 64 10.3 Public Matching Funds – (applicable only to applications submitted by Community Bodies) ........... 64 10.4 Evidence of Matching Funds and Bridging Finance ............................................................................. 66 10.5 Contribution-in-Kind ............................................................................................................................. 66 2 11 State Aid and De minimis Requirements ................................................................................................... 69 11.1 State Aid and De minimis ...................................................................................................................... 69 11.2 De minimis and the application process .............................................................................................. 71 11.3 Aid Outside of De minimis for Community Bodies ............................................................................... 71 12 The Project File and Claim Documentation ............................................................................................... 73 12.1 Project File ............................................................................................................................................ 73 12.2 Grant Payment Claim ............................................................................................................................ 75 13 Payment of Funds .......................................................................................................................................