Deputies:

As the Deputy is aware, my Department is responsible for the delivery of axes 3 and 4 of the rural development programme 2007-13 for which overall funding of the order of €425 million is available. The main objectives of the programme are to improve the quality of life in rural areas and facilitate the diversification of the rural economy. The individual measures under the programme, including the indicative funds available, are as follows: diversification into non-agricultural activities for farm families- €16.66 million; support for business creation and development - €48.26 million; encouragement of tourism activities - €45.4million; basic services for the economy and rural population - €49.61 million; village renewal and development - €54.2 million; conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage - €51.7 million; training and information on adapted and new skills - €29.45 million; and implementing co-operation projects - €10.7 million.

Deputies:

There are 36 local action groups contracted on my Department's behalf to deliver the rural development programme throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers on the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the individual group's local development strategy and in line with my Department's operating rules and European Union regulations. In terms of funding, €27 million was made available to the groups in 2009 and the allocation under the programme in 2010 is €40 million. This year's allocation represents an increase of approximately 120% on expenditure in 2009.

Deputies:

The Deputy will be aware that it is imperative, particularly in the current economic climate, that the rural development programme maximises the funding available for the programme in local areas, in order to ensure the improvement of the quality of life in rural areas and the diversification of the rural economy. With this in mind, I recently announced that the groups are free to enter into commitments up to the value of €40 million for 2011. In announcing this initial allocation for next year, I urged the groups to focus their energies on supporting projects that will bring jobs and real and sustainable growth to communities across rural Ireland and I am confident that the availability of this initial €40 million allocation for 2011 will allow the groups to do this.

Deputies:

To support them in the roll-out of the programme, my Department is working very closely with individual groups to ensure efficient and effective delivery. It is also worth noting that I and the Minister of State, Deputy White, intend to meet with all the groups during July to discuss progress and emerging opportunities and also to address any difficulties that they have encountered in the ongoing delivery of the programme. I am confident that groups will continue to serve their local communities by ensuring that all available funding is spent so as to maximise the impact of the programme in their areas.

Deputies:

The following table outlines the allocations and the spend in each group.

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