Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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It could be at the lower end, but it has a low budget. In proportion to their budget, one can see that the level of administrative costs associated with these particular entities is unacceptable. I want to protect the delivery of front-line services to these particular areas, but I will certainly not countenance setting up a structure that will gobble up an enormous amount of money in administrative costs. That is what is happening at the moment.

From the outcome of the Common Agricultural Policy talks, the Leader funds will be considerably less - probably less than half what we had in the last round. On the last occasion, we were able to give a 5% national top-up above the 5% that came through the rural development programme. Therefore, we do not have the luxury of all the structures that we have become accustomed to under social partnership in the good days. We must thus rationalise structures and see how we can use other existing structures, such as local government, to pay for heating, light and offices, as well as developing a one-stop-shop approach towards the economic and community development of those areas. It should be about what we are going to do for the people of the area, rather than long-established structures that are protecting people in jobs that are too highly paid.

I would point out that Forum Connemara was established in 2009. I do not know whether it should have been established then but it was.