Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 867: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a grant that has been approved, will be forwarded without any further delay in respect of a group (details supplied) [18697/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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There are 35 Local Action Groups (LAG) contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Departmental operating rules and EU regulations.

There are a number of systems in place at both Departmental and LAG level to ensure that funding approved and delivered through the Rural Development Programme is managed in an efficient and effective way and is also verifiably correct. My Department has been in contact with Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP), the LAG for the area, with regard to the project referred to in the question.

Funding for the project was approved by MNELP and the LAG is now in the process of ensuring that all the documentation in respect of the claim for payment in respect of the completed project is in order. Once the documentation is finalised, and the LAG is satisfied that all is in order, the LAG will request a drawdown of RDP funds from my Department. Any claim for payment once received by my Department will be subject to my Department's own verification processes.