Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have kept them going in the meantime. Eighteen of the local action groups are selected for the new programme and I expect to have all decisions of the independent selection committee issued in the coming weeks. I want to get this new programme up and running. I do not know about the Deputy but people are coming to my office wanting to know when this LEADER money is coming. It will be done very quickly. There were areas where they had to be assessed. There was a competitive bid. They are being assessed by an independent panel. The panel had a few things to finish up. It will be coming to me in the next week or two because I am asking my officials very regularly about when I can announce the rest of LEADER funding because it is money we want out there being spent on the ground.