Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be glad to hear the LEADER programme allocation for Cork is almost €21 million, up from €13.9 million under the previous programme. This is a 50% increase and the highest allocation in the country for the biggest county in the country. We assess applications on population and deprivation. Some counties get more funding than others based on that. There may be a smaller population but greater deprivation.

My focus now is on delivery. As I said, the selection process is open and all the details are available on the Department's website. Interested parties have until 16 December to put in their expressions of interest. I would tell them to get to it. As far as I am concerned, the ball has been thrown in, the funding is there and it is up to groups to get their bids in and deliver their projects. It is a great programme. I advise applicants to work collaboratively because when we work together, we get better results. That is all I have to say.

See this speech in context