Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Adjournment Matters

Leader Programmes Expenditure

6:35 pm

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim leithscéil faoi nach bhfuil an freagra scríofa as Gaeilge, ach déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall aistriúchán a dhéanamh ar na focail nach bhfuil ró-dhian orm.

In line with the 'bottom-up' approach to rural development it is a matter for each comhlacht forbartha áitiúil na projects ar a gcaithfidh siad airgead a roghnú. In May 2013 LDCs were awarded revised allocations under the Leader elements of the rural development programme. Two main issues are relevant in understanding the rationale nó an fáth gur tharla sé seo. Ar an gcéad dul síos, sa bhliain 2012 iarradh ar ghach comhlacht forbhartha áitiúil a gcuid airgid a chaitheamh, dá dteastódh sin uathu, on first-come first served basis. Bhí an seans céanna ag gach comhlacht an méid airgid a theastaigh uathu a chur isteach i dtogra áitiúil.

The second issue relates to the change in co-financing rates. During 2011, the European Commission approved a change in the maximum co-financing rate, from 55% to 85%, for the Leader elements of Ireland's RDP, but only for expenditure incurred in 2012 and 2013. Séard a thit amach ansin ná go raibh laghdú ar an méid airgid sa chlár - laghdú ó €427 milliún go dtí €370 milliún, ísliú de 13%. An toradh a bhí ar seo ná go raibh laghdú ar an mhéid airgid a fuair Galway Rural Development agus FORUM Connemara. The redistribution of available funding was conducted in as fair and equitable a manner as was possible, with many comhlachtaí forbartha áitiúla experiencing an ísliú freisin. The allocations were adjusted to ensure that all comhlachtaí forbartha áitiúla received at least 80% of the allocation bunúsach a bhí acu. Had this not been done, d'fhéadfadh a lán comhlachtaí, including Galway Rural Development and FORUM Connemara, ciorruithe níos mó a fhulaingt in the context the allocations were calculated sa tslí is féaráilte gurbh fhéidir.

Tugadh €22 milliún do Galway Rural Development, FORUM Connemara agus Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe. Chomh maith le sin, fuair Comhar na nOileán €4.7 milliún do na hoileáin, a major portion of which was allocated to Galway. Seo airgead mór d'aon áit nó aon chuid den tír. Maidir leis na Gaeltacht areas, tá laghdú freisin sa mhéid airgid atá ar fáil dóibh. When MFG (Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta) went into liquidation in 2011, bhí €3. 371 milliún caite aige ar an programme bunúsach a bhí aige. In May 2013, €6 million for the Gaeltacht areas was awarded to the contiguous local development companies. Of this, fuair Gaillimh €2.1 de. Due consideration will of course be given to all areas, including the Gaeltacht, más rud é go mbeidh aon airgid breise le caitheamh.

Leader programme spending is subject to continual monitoring. Tá an Roinn ag faire ar seo i gcónaí agus beidh sé ag déanamh formal review of the commitments and expenditure levels ag deireadh na bliana seo. Ina dhiaidh sin, beidh an Aire in ann féachaint arís an bhfuil aon airgead breise le tabhairt amach. Sa chomhthéacs sin, tá sé tábhachtach a thuiscint it is a matter for each individual comhlacht forbartha áitiúil to decide cé acu project a theastaíonn uaidh airgead a chaitheamh air, má bhíonn an t-airgead breise sin aige.

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