Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are in year six of a seven-year programme and I know there will be an extension at the end of it to draw down funding. However, the reality is that €10 million more is spent on administration than on project expenditure, which is a figure that has to be kept in mind. As we go into the renegotiation of a new Common Agricultural Policy programme, along with a new LEADER programme, we have to be able to show the importance of LEADER. It is the only show in terms of community development for many communities. We cannot afford to lose European funding for it or to lose it as a scheme, given it has achieved huge things. However, we cannot allow an inconsistency in expenditure to damage it and we cannot allow this kind of spending. The Minister has to be certain in this regard. Can he give me a guarantee that by year-end, the project level of expenditure will be higher than administration?

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