Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the rural development programme 2007 to 2013 will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17386/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-2013 represents my Department's response to the commitment in the Programme for Government in relation to rural enterprise development. In that regard, I hope to be in a position to commence the process of selecting the Local Action Groups to deliver the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme in the near future. The funding available for the delivery of LEADER-type activities under the Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-13 will amount to €425.4 million — almost treble the €150 million available for the 2000-06 period. The new Programme will complement the other funding for rural development measures by my Department.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has over the past number of years been pursuing a process of cohesion of local delivery structures in order to simplify and enhance the effectiveness of the delivery of a range of local development programmes. Following extensive consultations with and between the local agencies to develop the most suitable configurations of groups, in the course of 2007, the Government decided on revised areas of coverage for local development groups and clarified the arrangements in relation to the membership of the boards 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. My intention is to have the cohesion process completed in advance of the roll out of the new NDP programmes, including the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme. At this stage, local development bodies are in place in some 54 of the 55 operational areas agreed by Government. I understand that steps are now being taken to complete the establishment of an appropriate structure in the remaining area. It is expected that this process will be completed shortly.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the role his Department played in negotiating AXIS 1, 2 and 3 with the EU Commission; the reason AXIS 4 measures are being progressed as non co-financed; the consequences for rural development measures for coastal communities; the specific proposals by his Department to target coastal communities under the revised Leader programmes; and the role of BIM in this regard. [17410/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Implementation of Axes 1 and 2 of the Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-2013 is the sole responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and consequently, my Department had no role in the negotiation of these axes with the EU Commission. My Department is responsible for the implementation of Axes 3 and 4 of the Rural Development Programme Affairs through a network of Local Action Groups and my officials were accordingly involved in the negotiation of these axes, alongside the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

It was been agreed with the Commission that all Axis 3 measures, including those to support improvements to the quality of life in rural areas and the diversification and development of the rural economy, will be delivered through Axis 4 (LEADER Axis) of the Rural Development Programme. All Axis 4 activities will be co-funded by the Commission at a rate of 55%.

There are no specific proposals to target coastal communities under the Rural Development Programme, rather such communities will benefit in the wider rural development context from the significant investments that will be delivered by the Programme. My Department has liaised with BIM and many other stakeholders in relation to the Rural Development Programme and will continue to do so as the Programme is implemented.