Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The LEADER programme is administered in County Meath by the Meath local community development committee, LCDC, which acts as the local action group for the subregion in partnership with Meath County Council and Meath Partnership.

The total amount of funding allocated to the county for the duration of the 2014-2020 LEADER programme is in excess of €6.9 million, which includes administration and project funding. To date, 24 projects with a combined value of €966,042 have been approved by the local action group. This amounts to approximately 19% of its project budget. In addition, a further five projects seeking total funding of €247,846 are at various stages of the approvals process. The local action group in Meath has indicated that it will have allocated approximately 50% of its project budget by May of this year.

Project payments are drawn down as approved works are completed and claims for payment are submitted by the project promoters. To date, claims totalling €37,301 have been approved and paid in respect of projects in County Meath.

I will be closely monitoring progress across all LEADER areas in the coming months to ensure that the budget available to Ireland under the 2014-2020 programme is fully utilised. I am confident, however, that the overall progress being made by the LAGs in approving projects, along with the administrative improvements introduced by my Department during the past year, will result in a full utilisation of the budget.

See this speech in context