Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is considering removing Leader funding from gateway towns; if he has examined the impact of such a move; the action he will take to ensure that those groups which benefited from Leader funding are able to obtain funding from alternative sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10184/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The new Rural Development Programme for Ireland for the 2007 –13 round of structural funding was adopted at a meeting in Brussels on July 24 last. The new Programme will see an almost three-fold increase in funding available for LEADER-type activity in Ireland to €425.4m. Priority areas for development will be the small food producer sector, the ongoing development of the rural/agri-tourism sector and the implementation of the Countryside Recreation Strategy.

The urban areas defined as gateways and hubs, in the National Spatial Strategy, are not covered by the Rural Development Programme 2007–13. However, this approach was adopted following detailed negotiations with the European Commission and in my opinion is the best outcome we could have secured relating to coverage. It has had the effect of continuing the coverage of significant areas which otherwise would not receive funding if the initial Commission approach were adopted. In overall terms the level of investment resulting from the new Rural Development Programme will be a significant boost to the country as a whole.