Kilkenny Leader Partnership is marking 35 years of supporting rural communities and businesses across the county.
The group held an autumn gathering at Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre yesterday (Friday), featuring a panel discussion on its long-term success and the current uncertainty surrounding its future.
CEO Declan Rice says the programme has been vital in funding local community centres, playgrounds, and cultural projects.
He is now calling for secure, long-term funding, warning that local communities need certainty to effectively plan for the future.
“I don’t think that the program was inefficient entirely, but I think we we we need security. You need to hang on to people. You need We need to know where we’re going. So that means I think the sooner decisions are made and commitments are made by governments and EU to say there’s going to be a minimum LEADER budget, and that’s a realistic budget. And I think the 425 million is a realistic budget. God knows, we had we had we had it all those years ago in 2008. You know, with inflation and everything else, why haven’t we got it now? It’s not like the country can’t afford it.” said Declan.
