Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The new rural development programme for 2007-13 was adopted in July 2007 and will be delivered by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This programme will see an almost threefold increase in funding available for Leader-type activity in Ireland to €425 million over the lifetime of the programme. My Department is responsible for the delivery of Axes 3 and 4 of the programme. Axis 3 focuses on the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy, while Axis 4 provides for the implementation of the Leader approach to rural development through local action groups who will deliver the measures in Axis 3.

The measures to be funded under the new programme include diversification into non-agricultural activities for farm families; support for business creation and development; encouragement of tourism activities; basic services for economic and rural population; village renewal and development; conservation and upgrading of rural heritage; and training and information on adapted and new skills. The selection process for the local action groups that will deliver the Leader part of the rural development programme will commence in the immediate future. I intend to put advertisements in newspapers next week.

See this speech in context