James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the community group projects that have received funding in Longford and Westmeath under the rural development programme since CLÁR was established with particular reference to the funding provided for each individual project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21576/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Since its establishment in 2002, my Department has managed the EU LEADER Programmes which fund community projects in the context of the Programmes' objective of improving the quality of life in rural areas. My Department's CLÁR Programme, which is a targeted investment programme in rural areas, has co-funded a number of community projects with LEADER.

In line with the 'bottom-up' approach to the LEADER Programmes, decisions on projects to be funded are made by the Boards of LEADER Companies selected for the purpose of the implementing the Programmes, rather than my Department.

In the case of the counties referred to by the Deputy, the LEADER Companies that will have dealt with the funding of individual community projects are Longford Community Resources Ltd, Westmeath Community Development Limited and Mid-South Roscommon Rural Development Company Limited. Details of all such projects funded are available from the respective LEADER Companies.