Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 18 together.

I refer the Deputies to my reply to a priority question on a related issue earlier today and to my previous replies to Question Nos. 10 and 19 of 14 February 2008.

As indicated in those replies, I hope to be in a position to commence the process of selecting the local action groups to deliver the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-2013 in the near future. The funding available for the delivery of LEADER-type activities under the Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-2013 will amount to €425.4 million — almost treble the €150 million available for the 2000-06 period. The new programme will complement the other funding for rural development measures by my Department.

On the local development social inclusion programme, the position is that the National Development Plan 2007-2013 commits €49.6 billion to social inclusion including some €417 million for the local development and social inclusion programme, LDSIP. The 2008 voted allocation for the LDSIP is €57.44 million. Transitional arrangements are in place for 2008 to enable the new integrated structures and partnerships to extend their areas of coverage and to embed their operations. A value for money review of the programme is currently being concluded. My intention is to use the findings from this review to shape the future programme.

As indicated to the House earlier today, my intention is to have the cohesion process completed in advance of the roll-out of the new national development programmes, including the Leader programme and the local development social inclusion programme.

See this speech in context