Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Senator's interest in this issue which is extremely important.

The new local government structures and the role of councillors are hugely important. In the process we are trying to carry out with Leader funding and the LCDC as the implementer of the funding available, my main objective is not to get too caught up in the process in order that it becomes an entity in itself but to get the money to those on the ground. That is my first priority. I will outline the current position on the process.

The selection process for Leader local development strategies is not yet complete, which means that I cannot comment on the final outcome. In this context, no contract has yet been awarded to any entity to deliver the Leader elements of the rural development programme 2014-20. My Department is working to ensure the selection process will be completed as soon as possible and I am optimistic that the first contracts will be awarded and the strategies operational in the autumn. That is my main priority. I am aware that people are preparing their local development strategies. In cases where the local development strategies are approved by the independent evaluation committee there is no reason for delay. There will be a period in which contracts will have to be awarded, but my priority is to get the money to where it needs to be spent to support communities.

Ireland is conducting a two-stage process for the selection of Leader local development strategies and both stages will be assessed by an independent selection committee. The first stage, expressions of interest, was open to any local group with an interest in supporting the delivery of Leader funding at a local level. A total of 45 expressions of interest were submitted by the closing date in respect of the 28 sub-regional areas specified in the expressions of interest documentation. In areas where multiple expressions of interest were received my Department has given an undertaking to facilitate discussions between the relevant entities with a view to engaging all parties and, if possible, reaching an agreement to develop one coherent local development strategy for their area. These meetings commenced last week and will continue for as long as is required. In the meantime, I expect all expressions of interest to be presented to the independent selection committee for assessment and decision by late June. Following this, preparatory support will be made available to all local action groups selected by the committee. That is where the support will be provided.

Entities successful on stage 1 will be invited to move to stage 2, the local development strategy, LDS, development phase.They will be allowed a minimum of six months to develop their strategies but some of them will have their strategies completed much earlier because they are all working at getting them in place.

Technical support for the process of selection of local development strategies will be provided to the selection committee by Pobal. That is another area where there will be support. The system of governance and management in place for the new programme will be documented in the Department's Operating Rules for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. These rules are influenced by the EU regulations governing the programme, with all the checks and balances in the EU regulations incorporated into the operating rules. My Department is currently drafting these rules with a view to having an outline version available for stage 2 of the selection process.

I assure the Deputy that I do not see any reason for delay. Some counties may not have their strategy developed as quickly as others but this Leader process is quite different from the previous one. It was only when everything was ready that the last Leader roll-out could go ahead. In this case, counties that are ready to go will be allowed to go. If somebody has their strategy developed there is no reason they cannot get up and running with it.