Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The LEADER programme is driven by a bottom-up approach. Decisions on projects are taken at a local level by local action groups which have been approved to administer the programme. The Department of Rural and Community Development engages with the local action groups on a regular basis with regard to every aspect of the programme. As part of this engagement, a LEADER forum was held with the local action groups in May 2017. As a consequence of this, I have introduced 31 actions over the last year or so to streamline the administration of the LEADER programme. These actions cover nearly every aspect of LEADER delivery. For example, there has been a 55% reduction in the level of paperwork to be submitted by local action groups as part of their monthly administration returns. This gives local action group staff more time to engage with potential applicants. A standardised application form has been introduced to assist in streamlining the process. Procurement arrangements have been revised and clarified. Contrary to recent misleading comments in the media, as a result of the 31 improvements which have been introduced, the local action groups are no longer required to provide a written record of having received a verbal quote for procuring items costing less than €100. The result of the 31 improvements is clear to see. The number of projects and the level of approved funding has increased dramatically this year. Some 1,450 projects have been approved for funding of €46 million. The level of funding approved to date this year is €30 million, which is almost twice the €16 million approved for projects in all of 2017. Notwithstanding the progress that has been made, I am always looking for new ways to improve the programme. I will continue to keep the programme under review in 2019.

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