Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Project expenditure under the current LEADER programme commenced in 2017, following the signing of funding agreements in the second half of 2016 with the majority of the local action groups, LAGs, which deliver the programme throughout the country. To date, 1,644 projects with a grant value of more than €55.8 million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs. A further 355 projects, requesting funding in excess of €22 million, are at various stages in the approvals process. Project payments have increased significantly in the past year, as approved works are completed and project promoters submit claims for payment.

Approximately €13.6 million was spent on projects between the commencement of the programme and 4 January this year. Of this total, more than €12.5 million of project expenditure was incurred in 2018 compared with just under €700,000 in 2017. These figures clearly demonstrate the scale of the increase in project activity under LEADER last year. The following table provides details of the project expenditure incurred in 2018 in each LAG area.

I am confident that the progress being made by the LAGs in approving projects, along with the administrative improvements introduced by my Department over the past year, will result in a continued increase in project approvals and payments under the LEADER programme during 2019.

LEADER 2014-2020 Project Expenditure in 2018 by LAG

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