Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the LEADER programme, the European Commission has proposed a 5% reduction in the CAP. The CAP has now been carried over for another year. The Government does not want that to happen. We will be negotiating with Europe but that will be some time next year.

The LEADER projects will be allocated up to 2020. There will be a three-year time gap for the spend on that. I have already raised this issue. I would like a continuation of the LEADER programme. I do not want to see the vacuum that was created the last time but it is not looking good at the moment with the CAP negotiations. I have asked my officials about it. To be fair, they have been talking to Europe. We are trying to get continuation of the programme. The gap was what created many of the problems with the LEADER programme and I do not want to see the gap materialise again. I want to see the continuation of the programme.