Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is fearless, like the Irish Farmers' Journal. I am glad that the Connacht Tribune is highlighting this issue as it is an important one. The Minister did not refer to the fact there were many people who wanted to make applications, as any representative from Galway would tell him. I would feel very sorry for them if they were unable get their applications in on time.

A concern was raised by Pat the Cope Gallagher, MEP, about a possible reduction in rural development funding if, for example, management of the Leader programmes was moved away from the local development companies. Again, I would like the Minister to deal with this point. If people are trying to provide community facilities or undertake enterprise projects and the Leader companies are not involved, where is the alternative source of employment in rural areas? There will be serious ramifications if rural development funding is reduced. I hope the Minister will keep his mind on this issue and perhaps even rethink the plans for the future of the Leader programme, if that were to be the case. My attitude has always been that the programme is working well, certainly in the case of the east Galway projects about which I know more than the west Galway projects Is there a need, therefore, to change something that is working well? I would say no and if the Minister has other ideas, I would certainly like to hear from him. I hope he will give attention to the funding problems being encountered in the case of the east Galway projects.

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