Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am monitoring this closely. To be fair, my Department is not holding back progress. When the Department gets receipts, it pays out the funds as quickly as possible. In response to the Deputy's specific questions, some of the LEADER companies around the country have done very well. In Mayo, for example, 88 projects have been approved with a total value of €3.689 million and to date, €407,887 has been drawn down. In Kilkenny, 55 projects with a value of €1.498 million have been approved, while the figure for approved projects in Laois is €941,000, with a draw down to date of €317,000. The Deputy is correct in saying that some counties have been slow to get off the ground but they are beginning to make progress now. Galway has not been doing too well so far but I am sure it will improve. In Galway east, projects worth €1.254 million have been approved but to date no funding has been drawn down. In Galway west, a total of 22 projects worth €381,000 have been approved but only €70,000 has been drawn down.

To be fair, my Department is not holding things up. I have already made a number of changes to LEADER. My Department meets the LAGs on a regular basis. I met LEADER companies earlier this year and told them that I will make any changes that are required to improve the programme.

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