FLAG North West

Local Development Strategy

View FLAG North West Local Development Strategy

The FLAG North West includes County Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, with a total population of 70,338 located within the 10km coastal strip. It is estimated that 4.2% of all coastal employment in FLAG North West was in direct seafood employment, with a further 7.3% being in downstream seafood employment. In particular, the aquaculture industry employed 222 persons in FLAG North West, in 2021, accounting for 11% of the total number employed in the industry, across all of the coastal regions.  

Salmon farming is significant, producing the second highest output (7,717 tonnes) with oyster farming making a significant contribution to the coastal economy. 

The strategy describes the economy and community which FLAG North West seeks to build, with the ambition to further improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of coastal communities in the FLAG North West area. This is in line with the strategy vision: 

“The FLAG North West area will have a resilient and growing fishery and aquaculture dependent communities with strong sense of area’s rich maritime, culture and heritage.” 

Through the following actions:

• Diversify and enhance the income of individuals dependant on seafood and the blue economy in the coastal community 

• Identify innovations that can lead to a transition towards smarter growth in coastal area 

• Develop and promote niche tourism   

• Build capacity to develop greater co-operation between all relevant stakeholders in coastal communities   

• Support community involvement in the management of Ireland’s coastal resource to sustain its physical character and environmental quality   

• Actions to protect and promote the sense of place and culture and the quality, character and distinctiveness of the Irish coastal communities.  

To achieve these actions North West FLAG has selected the following areas of activity priority :

For this targeted call FLAG North West have implemented the following grant aid caps and restrictions per application :

FLAG North West (Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim)  

FLAG North West recommends ringfencing €100,000 of its annual budget to be used on project applications under €10,000 of expenditure.

North West – additional specific ineligible items Log cabins, AirBnB, guesthouses, B&B’s, hotels (glamping and camping accommodation is eligible)