Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

County Kilkenny is going to lose up to 50% of its funding, as will counties Donegal, Meath, Kerry and Tipperary. The Minister, Deputy Kelly, proudly proclaimed on "Morning Ireland" that he has brought €10 million to County Tipperary. Some €25 million was allocated in respect of that county under the previous programme. To add insult to injury, the independence and autonomy of Leader and rural development companies has been fatally undermined by the Government. For the first time ever - I am not saying this it is being said by the companies to which I refer - the Government has decided that before the open competition for funding happens, it is going to divvy up the overall pot and allocate a budget per county. Not only is the funding going to be dramatically and substantially reduced, the Government has decided to take away-----

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