Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government
Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 34 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised)
5:10 pm
Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Leader programme from 2007 to 2014 received €235 million from the EU and €135 million from the Exchequer, totalling €370 million. There was a change because commitments were already made. The funding for the new programme is €250 million, with the rate of co-funding still to be finalised.
The rural development programme is still being signed off at European Union level. It is important to note that I will shortly be in a position to call for expressions of interest in the new programme. My priority is to ensure the €250 million available under the programme is allocated to facilitate new projects in the community.
On the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, the €1 million allocation was for projects specified in the commission's report, which makes 34 recommendations. The focus of the report is the co-ordination of existing funding for rural areas across various Departments. The CEDRA report does not identify a new budget but addresses ways of ensuring existing budgets are spent in rural areas.
Under the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, which will be rolled out from 1 April 2015, €28 million will be allocated to communities. The tender process was won by 44 development companies. The major concern among the Leader companies was that the process would result in privatisation. This concern has not been realised.
The Minister addressed employment issues. Such matters, including legal issues, are for the Leader companies to address. The Minister also noted that community funding for women, Travellers and the islands has been ring-fenced. Additional funding has been provided for community development programmes in the inner cities. In addition, €400,000 was provided for an Cosán in Cherry Orchard and Changing Ireland and €9.5 million interim funding has been provided to the local and community development programme. We are managing the entire process. The tenders were announced yesterday and we understand most people are very content with the outcome.