Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an méid atá ráite aige. The priority here is to ensure that the next LEADER programme is shaped in the way that best fits the communities that need to be served by it. The Minister of State mentioned the amount of funding that is going to be made available. The key issue here for us is not the size of the pot, which in itself is very important when we look at it from a global point of view, but when we look at it from an island point of view, we need to ensure that we are able to spend that money on the islands. There was only one successful application for an enterprise grant on the islands off the coast of Donegal. The Minister of State knows the islands off the coast of Donegal, namely, Arranmore, Tory, Inis Bó Finne and Gola where many people could do with LEADER funding to help them start up businesses in an area that has been ravaged with high unemployment. The co-funding is not fit for purpose and makes it impossible for many people. This is a challenge because we do not have an island-specific LEADER programme. We are asking the Minister of State to implore the senior Minister and his Cabinet colleagues to ensure that when this is shaped, going forward, there is an understanding and a unique position for the islands for co-funding, ring-fenced funding and the administration of same.

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