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 History LEADER II 
 Home Page | BNS History | LEADER I | LEADER II  
  
 
Leader II

As a result of the success of the pilot programmes the EU commission decided to adopt the LEADER programme for 'mainstreaming' to all rural areas of the Union that met the programme criteria. All rural areas of the Republic of Ireland were eligible for LEADER and applications were invited from existing and new LAGs. BNS applied for and were granted the LEADER II agency with an increased budget of over EI£3.5 million for a smaller area comprising counties Carlow and Kilkenny and a smaller segment of Tipperary South Riding.


photo of LEADER II application launch

The Board and staff present Minister
of State Jimmy Deniheen with BNS's
LEADER II application in 1995


photo young film makers

Young Irish Film Makers making 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' with equipment funded by BNS under LEADER II

LEADER II represented a shift in emphasis from the primarily enterprise-based focus of the pilot programme to an approach that gave equal weight to both the creation of employment and the development of community structures and personal development for rural dwellers. An larger expenditure on training and education was an indication of this increased committment.

photo of LEADER II report launch

BNS Board and Minister of State Noel avern launch the LEADER II End of programme report in 2001


map of BNS LEADER II area

The BNS region for LEADER II 1996-2000