Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 375: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps being put in place to allow local authorities to co-fund projects with the Leader programme. [34211/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is divided into 4 Axes. Axis 1 deals with competitiveness of the agricultural sector, Axis 2 aims to improve the countryside and environment and the objectives of Axis 3 are to support the diversification of the rural economy and improve the quality of life in rural areas. Axis 4 or the LEADER Axis provides support for the use of a "bottom up" approach to development which ensures that local people are involved in the decision making, thereby facilitating sustainable development in a more inclusive way. In Ireland the LEADER approach is used to implement Axis 3 measures.

Co-funding with local authorities is currently permitted under three measures of the Programme, for community projects only. These measures and their eligible activities are listed below:

Ø Basic services for the economy and rural population - €49.61m – Funding is available for the identification and provision of appropriate cultural and leisure facilities to local communities, which would not otherwise be available to them.

Ø Village renewal and development - €54.2m – eligible activities include environmental upgrading of parks, civic areas, river walks, access to facilities, and amenities and farmers markets.

Ø Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage - €51.7m – funding is available for actions including alternative or renewable energy actions addressing suitability of new technologies to meet community energy needs, environmental initiatives aimed at waste reduction, actions to protect and restore the amenity value of local watercourses and high value nature areas.