Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I accept the Deputy inquires regularly about the Leader programme. As he is aware, the preparation and submission of local development strategies under the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 is under way in each of the 28 designated subregional areas. A minimum period of six months to the end of January 2016 has been allowed for the submission of strategies by all local action groups, with the majority expected to submit strategies within that timeframe. To date, six local development strategies have been received and these are being considered at present. Based on the expression of interest process, all these strategies relate to areas for which only one strategy is expected to be submitted. At this stage, my Department expects that a single strategy will be submitted in at least 22 of the 28 subregional areas.

The strategies, as they are submitted, are assessed by Pobal before being forwarded to the independent evaluation committee for final evaluation and decision. The independent committee met on 5 November 2015 to consider the first strategy received and identified a number of areas within the strategy where further information and analysis was required to bring it up to the required standard. A revised strategy has been received since and the independent evaluation committee will meet again on 17 December to consider this, together with another two of the strategies received.

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