Mr. J.P. Mulherin:

There were several questions about the LEADER programme. Senator Conway-Walsh asked about a review of the operation of this programme. There is an overall review - I believe it is called an enhanced implementation report - that has been contracted out to an independent consultancy to deal with the overall rural development programme. I believe Indecon is undertaking that. As part of it the operation of the LEADER programme is being reviewed. As part of that there will be surveys of the local action groups, LAGs, and the recipients, and they are having different working groups with different stakeholders to look at the operation of the programme. That is under way at the moment, and we await the outcome of that review.