Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

As a volunteer for more than 40 years, since I was a toddler, I wish to acknowledge the part played by volunteers throughout this country for many years. As we all know, this is the European Year of Volunteering. I wish to pay tribute to those from all walks of life, young and old, who, as the Minister remarked, work in their various communities not for profit but to make a difference. We must acknowledge the difference they make. The Minister mentioned, for example, 820 tidy towns committees throughout the country who work from January to January to improve their own towns and villages and make them better places to live in and to visit. They make a significant contribution to tourism. I often wonder what it would be like if we did not have the GAA, the credit union, tidy towns committees or meals on wheels. What sort of an Ireland would we have in the 21st century? It is remiss of us not to recognise the contribution of all these people. As somebody observed, not all of them get medals or prizes.

My question concerns the Leader programme. The Minister may correct me if I am wrong. For projects in that programme which are in excess of €200,000, I understand final approval is made by Brussels. As a public representative, when I hear Brussels, I think of delay, bureaucracy, i's not dotted, whatever. For communities throughout the country who may have succeeded in raising half their costs and are anxious to get their projects completed, does the Minister envisage any major delays in approval of these various projects?