Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The best tribute that could be paid to local development companies, members of the boards and the people they serve is to maintain them in their current form. They are doing an excellent job, and the Leader companies directly and indirectly employ thousands of people across the country. By ploughing ahead with the proposed changes, the Minister, Deputy Hogan, is facilitating a grab on local democracy, centralising power rather than leaving it to local communities. I could go on for hours about the amount of excellent work being done by local development companies around the country but we must seriously consider the current position. Representatives of the network have left the discussions because they do not believe their points of view are being represented. This is a serious juncture for these companies so I ask the Tánaiste to ensure the local development and Leader companies will continue as they are currently constituted. They have done a fantastic job and Europe has noted what a great job we have done with the Leader programme. Nevertheless, it seems we are to dismantle it.

Will the Tánaiste confirm if the Leader companies as currently constituted will be facilitated in every way by the Departments of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Agriculture, Food and the Marine in order to be allowed tender for the next round of Leader funding?

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