Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Leader programme for 2014-20 will now be delivered in the west Cork sub-regional area by West Cork LCDC in conjunction with its implementing partners, Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG, Comhar na nOileán Teoranta and South and East Cork Area Development Partnership Limited. A funding agreement has issued to West Cork LCDC and I expect that Leader funding will commence in west Cork from 1 November. The most important thing is that the funding goes into the communities and that the projects that need it get the funding. When this function was transferred into my Department I was very keen to get the contracts signed as quickly as possible, to get the money out to the communities which need it.

A complaint has been made and it is incumbent on the European Commission to look into any complaints it receives, as I would do in the same circumstances. I imagine that is why it is looking into the issue.

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