OVER 400 people attended Wexford Local Development (WLD) information meetings across the county in recent weeks to hear of how they can potentially benefit from LEADER funding up to 2020.

WLD CEO Brian Kehoe outlined to audiences in New Ross, Enniscorthy, Wexford and Gorey, how a pot of almost €8 million in grant aid funding will be available during this time for investment in innovative community and enterprise projects.

The application process and priorities for funding were outlined at the meetings.

Those in attendance heard how approximately €2 million in grant aid is available for niche tourism projects, while a further €2 million is available for niche enterprises including those in the artisan food sector.

The community sector is set to benefit from almost €3 million in grant aid funding, while a budget of almost €400,000 will be available for rural environment projects.

Wexford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), in partnership with Wexford Local Development (WLD), has responsibility for the delivery of the new programme in County Wexford under the remit of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.

Chaired by Councillor Tony Dempsey, the LCDC will be the decision-making body for all LEADER funding allocations.

A number of key objectives for this programme were agreed following a public consultation process earlier this year.

These focus on Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Rural Environment and reflect the key challenges facing County Wexford with regard to economic recovery, employment creation and tackling social exclusion.

The objectives cover the key areas in need of the greatest support and are sufficiently broad and flexible to facilitate a wide range of projects throughout the county, including in the Wexford town area.

The county town was excluded from previous LEADER programmes.

Read more in the Wexford Echo.