Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To answer the last question first, no LAG can go over 25%. It is 25% over the life of the programme and under no circumstances can it be exceeded. I will not give the Deputy all the same answers he has got before but I will say the following. He has asked a fair question and I will give him a fair answer. I refer to the new table that was distributed with the reply. Every time the Deputy and other colleagues ask this question, I return to my Department, bring in my officials and ask them what is going on. We have sent officials out to different LEADER companies nationally. To be fair, some of them are performing very well and some are not performing at all. I need to look at this and I will do so. The Deputy asked what we are going to do with the companies that are not performing. I will soon be in a position to make decisions on budgets and I will reward those LEADER companies that are doing well. The ones that are not doing well will not be rewarded. I am looking at the LEADER companies that are not performing and I will have to deal with that. I am not going to leave it too long either.

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