Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the changes made to Leader, the changes are what messed up the whole thing because it was rolling out nicely in communities. Obviously, there would have been a bit of tweaking somewhere, although not in west Cork, thank God. Everything has changed. Mr. Mulherin could ask every Deputy in the country. It does not have to be an Independent Deputy. It could be a Government Deputy. The whole process is completely stalled. That is what is being said on the floor of the Dáil, in here and at other meetings. Mr. Mulherin says it takes time but it is nearly 2018, there are only two years left and nothing is happening. Local improvement schemes, which I welcome, were mentioned. They are brilliant schemes but the funding is coming out of Leader funding. The Minister said that here last week. Chunks of money are being taken out of Leader and used elsewhere.

In respect of the independent selection committee, I was well aware of the process in west Cork. It was quite questionable. I received no answers because I came in here on several occasions and looked for clear answers. I got no answers. How can a company that was commended by Europe and spent the money in an excellent manner, as West Cork Development Partnership did, score less points than a group that had never been involved in the roll-out of the programme? It is quite astonishing and questionable but then again, we might have an inquiry into these things down the road - who knows?