Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the delivery of the new Leader and social inclusion programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5451/08]

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the new Leader programme; when it will be announced; the funding that has been put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5457/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 19 together.

I hope to be in a position shortly to commence the process of selecting local action groups to deliver the Leader element of the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013. The funding available for the delivery of Leader-type activities under the programme will amount to €425.4 million, almost treble the €150 million available for the 2000 to 2006 period. The new programme will complement the other funding for rural development measures by my Department.

The National Development Plan 2007-2013 commits €49.6 billion to social inclusion, including €417 million for the local development and social inclusion programme, LDSIP. The 2008 voted allocation for the LDSIP is €57.44 million. Transitional arrangements are in place for 2008 to enable the new integrated structures and partnerships to extend their areas of coverage and embed their operations. A value for money review of the programme is being concluded. I intend to use the findings from this review to shape the future programme.

Deputies will be aware that my Department in recent years has been pursuing a process of cohesion in local delivery structures to simplify and enhance the effectiveness of the delivery of a range of local development programmes. Following extensive consultations with and among local agencies to develop the most suitable group configurations, in the course of 2007 the Government decided on revised areas of coverage for local development groups and clarified the arrangements for board membership of these bodies. Leader and partnership groups have been asked to give effect to these decisions and my Department has provided detailed guidelines to secure this outcome. The realignment of local delivery structures will reduce the overall number of local development bodies from 94 to 55, comprising 17 partnerships in urban areas and 38 integrated Leader-partnership bodies in rural areas.

I intend to have the cohesion process completed in advance of the roll-out of the NDP programmes, including the Leader programme and the LDSIP. At this stage, local development bodies are in place in 50 of the 55 operational areas agreed by Government. The representative networks of Leader and partnership groups, whom I met on 31 January, have assured me they are fully behind the Government's policy on cohesion and will endeavour to ensure local delivery structures are in place across the full 55 areas in the coming weeks.

In one case, a Leader group made a complaint to the European Commission regarding the Leader element of the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013, and in particular the cohesion process. I am satisfied our approach in this area is fully consistent with European regulations. My Department is monitoring the position closely.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I tabled this question because there is great concern among Leader groups. They want the announcement immediately. They want to know the rules and regulations and the level of funding. Thousands of people throughout the country are waiting to see what the new Leader programme will bring and how they can apply for it.

Does the Minister have plans to downsize and amalgamate some of the Leader groups rather than having two or three in some areas? When will we have a definite date for the announcement? People want to know. What are the Leader groups doing now? The previous programme is finished and the funding has run out. There is no point in having people sitting in offices when there are people who want to apply for grant aid. The Leader programme has worked and I support the Minister's efforts in this area. We now want to know when the new programme will be rolled out.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It is difficult to give an absolute deadline. The Deputy would not like me to run off and roll it out before the new structures are in place and the companies are ready. I am ready if they are ready, but I do not think they are quite ready yet. In the Deputy's county they are coming close to being ready at last. I have said many times that we need to get on with the job and allocate the funds. The only good thing is that the funds are available. Even if we lose a month or two at the beginning, it will still be €425.4 million in the end. That is one consolation. I have tried to be as patient as possible because I understand the changes that are taking place. I have stirred a few hornets' nests, perhaps, where people had got into comfortable positions. People are familiar with what they know.

On the matter of the number of companies, once this process is over, that is it. We have no intention of going any further. In the Deputy's county it is a question of having either two or three companies. My gut feeling would be that two is better. It is a big county, so one would not be enough. I sometimes look over the border into County Mayo and think it is a fine county but I am not sure I would like to represent it in the Dáil because it is colossal, extending from the border at Headford to the far end at Fód Dubh. However, those involved in Mayo wanted three companies and I felt I would bow to local wishes if that was what they really wanted, so I went along with it. I do not intend to get caught between two and three. I also mentioned that one Leader company wrote to the European Commission and raised the issues. The Commission wrote to us and we replied. We are satisfied that we are within the regulation. The Commission wrote back to the Leader company, which has the opportunity to reply to our reply. It would be very unfair of me, to put it mildly, if I did not give it every opportunity to state its case if it thinks it has one. I will do my best to deal with the issues it raised and issues the EU might raise. I am confident the EU believes we are totally within the regulation.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is gratifying to hear that local opinion is so impressive in Mayo.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister accepts that Europe sometimes takes a long time to make decisions. It is like writing to Departments. I sent a letter to the Department of Education and Science last November and had to put down a question in the Dáil this week to get the reply. After getting the reply, the details were supplied to the person. I was lucky in that the Secretary General of the Department was involved but I will keep that Department so busy next week, the next time I put down a question, it will answer me. I will spend all Sunday preparing Dáil questions for it.

The Minister may have to make political decisions in respect of the Leader programme, be they two, three or one. He should make those decisions and get the programme up and running. I ask him to try to get it up and running as quickly as possible. He cannot wait for Europe, although I know he must. It is their money. One group cannot hold up the entire country. I ask the Minister to try to roll out the programme as quickly as possible.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I have a brief question as I am conscious of the next question. Will MFG remain responsible for the administration of these matters in Gaeltacht affairs?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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MFG will remain responsible for the roll-out of the programme in Gaeltacht areas. The small section of Achill that is not included in the Gaeltacht is also included. There will be a Leader partnership for the islands. So, beidh Árann Mór agus Tóraí faoi chomhréim le na hoileáin.

To go back to Deputy Ring's question, I assure him that I will go there as quickly as possible but a little bit of patience, as any good fisherman knows, can save one a considerable amount of time in the end when one is trying to land a big fish. We are happy that everything we have done steadily, peacefully and through getting agreement is within the European guidelines. We are very near home and intend ensuring that we get there safely.

The representative group, PLANET, and the core Leader and the community representative groups have been very helpful. Many issues have arisen. Most of the companies have or are being formed so we are nearly there. In respect of the complaint to the EU, that has been replied to in full. It will get an opportunity to comment on that. It would be churlish of me not to wait 28 days to see whether the Cavan-Monaghan Leader company, which is the company involved, has any other questions. Process is important here.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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My question is very brief as time is against us. Will the Minister give us a brief indication as to how the compensation of livelihoods will be facilitated through the Leader funding and the fishermen in respect of the hardship fund? I know there will be a slight overlap. From speaking to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I know that there will be an emphasis on the coastal communities. Could the Minister enlighten us?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €5 million has been provided. It will be paid for out of the Vote of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources but will be dispersed by the Leader companies. We will make an announcement about that in the near future and it will be based on a Leader-type model. Basically, the eligibility criteria will be based on those used in the Leader programme.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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How much is involved?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Cúig mhilliún ar fad atá ann. It will be divided in as fair and transparent way as possible between the different fishery areas through the Leader companies. The work is nearly completed and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and I will make an announcement in the near future.